meaningful

adjective

mean·​ing·​ful ˈmē-niŋ-fəl How to pronounce meaningful (audio)
Synonyms of meaningfulnext
1
a
: having a meaning or purpose
The tests did not produce any meaningful results.
b
: full of meaning : significant
a meaningful life
a meaningful relationship
2
: having an assigned function in a language system
meaningful propositions
meaningfully
ˈmē-niŋ-fə-lē How to pronounce meaningful (audio)
adverb
meaningfulness noun

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of meaningful in a Sentence

The test did not produce any meaningful results. She looked at him in a meaningful way. He wanted to feel that his job was meaningful. The trip turned out to be very meaningful for both of them.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Welcome To The Future, Today Ultimately, robots have the potential to ease the transition from aging infrastructure to more future-ready operations, offering meaningful gains in productivity along the way. — Alexander Clausbruch, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025 The second installment is set to continue the conversation, with the 52-year-old creating more meaningful moments in new destinations. — Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 7 Aug. 2025 Michael Sampson, Milli Brown, and Operation Kindness invite readers, dog lovers, parents, and children alike to join in a meaningful partnership in animal advocacy and support. — Clea Haran, Parents, 7 Aug. 2025 An unusually intense high-pressure system has settled over central Arizona, fueling the latest round of triple-digit highs and keeping any meaningful rain out of reach. — Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 7 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for meaningful

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of meaningful was in 1852

Browse Nearby Words

meaning
meaningful
meaningless
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Meaningful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meaningful. Accessed 16 Aug. 2025.

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Kids Definition

meaningful

adjective
mean·​ing·​ful ˈmē-niŋ-fəl How to pronounce meaningful (audio)
1
: having a meaning or purpose
meaningful work
2
: full of meaning : significant
a meaningful experience
meaningfully
-fə-lē How to pronounce meaningful (audio)
adverb

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