mean
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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Whereas in the past companies and consumers could be relied upon to upgrade regularly, high prices will likely mean they keep old devices longer and only refresh when they absolutely must.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
"As with microscopy, higher energies mean smaller wavelengths, allowing one to probe smaller distances."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026
“I mean, that’s really the only thing I can say about it, it’s not what I wanted — by no means.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
“High diesel prices inevitably mean high jet-fuel prices,” and the fundamentals of the diesel market remain worrisome, said James Simpson, a director at S&P Global Energy.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
“What do you mean you did my job?”
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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That means new pressure on the R&D labs to come up with features that really capture consumers’ imagination.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Female socialization adds another layer, teaching us that putting basic human needs last means you’re doing a good job.
From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026
Analysts led by Matthew Lofting gently characterized BP’s recent tumultuous history as “chequered” but said the company’s balance sheet improvement means the stock is “no longer a poison pill.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
“Happy she gets to take that next step. I know what it means to her. I’m glad her last year was pivotal for the CBA and she’ll always have her name written on that.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
Part of me wants to remind her what an advanced reader I am, but I know that isn’t what she means.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
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The Financial Times's Danny Leigh dished out three stars, saying it paints a "portrait of tech rendering the young both sadder and meaner".
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
BP’s “leaner meaner approach could pave the way for more sustainable payouts to shareholders” but investors will want some assurance on its spending plans, Nathan says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 10, 2026
In turn, increased efficiency allows them to be meaner toward prospective employees.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 7, 2026
His memory lapse hasn’t made folks meaner — it’s just made Paul unaccustomed to the hassle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2025
About a month before school started she was mean all morning as usual and in the afternoon, instead of settling down to knit, she kept getting meaner and meaner.
From "Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key" by Jack Gantos
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And more than a few of my closest, meanest friends.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026
"Candidates should not try to be the meanest sheriff."
From Barron's ● Mar. 26, 2026
But the standout character is "queen bee" Regina, head of the Plastics clique and the meanest of the mean girls.
From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026
I was behind the wheel of the biggest, meanest, greenest, most American street-legal machine in existence.
From Slate ● Jun. 22, 2025
Joe grew into the meanest, angriest child any Lacks had ever known, and the family started saying something must have happened to his brain while he was growing inside Henrietta alongside that cancer.
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
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Such arguments are meant to pare down complicated, systemic issues into a series of individual choices.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
While it meant a lot that I was so concerned about people’s livelihoods, he said, we were doing the team a disservice by keeping a business going that wasn’t making a profit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
"Many storage projects that were meant to come up fell through as a result," Garg adds.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
This time, the target was bronze plaques meant to honor the military at Veterans Sports Park in Tustin.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
She nodded in the direction she meant while getting ready.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Most co-brand relationships are exclusive, meaning the partners can’t bring in another bank to do card issuance unless their existing bank partner agrees.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Its current probability is just 28%, meaning to expect lower 10-year yields over the coming month.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
Garrett underwent knee surgery after the season-opening loss to San Francisco and was placed on injured reserve, meaning he will miss four games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
Some applications were streamlined, meaning a higher number of claimants were given leave to remain.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
I stare at her as the meaning behind her words seeps in.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
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Vocabulary lists containing mean
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Commonly Confused Words, List 2
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Psychology
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