meet
23 synonyms and 0 antonyms for meet, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To come face to face with someone, whether by chance or by arrangement.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use meet
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English metan ("to meet, find, encounter"), tracing back to a very old Germanic and Indo-European root meaning "to come together" — related to the word "moot."
Full origin of meet →Frequently asked questions
What does “meet” mean?
The word “meet” means to come face to face with someone, whether by chance or by arrangement. In plain terms, to come together with a person or thing, whether socially, physically, or by satisfying some standard.
How do you pronounce “meet”?
“Meet” is pronounced meet (/mit/ in IPA).
How do you use “meet” in a sentence?
Here is “meet” used in a sentence: “We agreed to meet outside the cinema at seven.”
What part of speech is “meet”?
Depending on how it is used, “meet” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “meet” come from?
The word “meet” comes from Old English. From Old English metan ("to meet, find, encounter"), tracing back to a very old Germanic and Indo-European root meaning "to come together" — related to the word "moot.".
Is “meet” a common word?
“Meet” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “meet” have?
“Meet” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to come face to face with someone, whether by chance or by arrangement.
What is the difference between meet, meat, and mete?
All three sound alike. Meet is the verb for coming together with someone. Meat is the flesh of animals eaten as food. Mete is a rare verb meaning to hand out or distribute, usually 'mete out punishment.' Only meet involves people encountering one another; the others are entirely unrelated in meaning.
What is the past tense of meet?
The past tense and past participle are both 'met' — 'We met yesterday' and 'I have met her before.' Meet is irregular, so it does not take '-ed.' Take care not to confuse the spelling with 'meat'; only the verb about encountering people is spelt m-e-e-t.
What is the difference between meet and meet with?
'Meet' often suggests a brief or chance encounter, or being introduced — 'I met her at a party.' 'Meet with' usually implies a planned, more formal discussion — 'The board met with investors.' In American English 'meet with' is common; British English tends to prefer plain 'meet' for arranged talks.
What does it mean to meet someone halfway?
To meet someone halfway means to compromise — each side gives a little to reach agreement. The image is of two people walking toward each other and stopping in the middle. It is one of many idioms built on meet, alongside 'meet expectations' and 'make ends meet,' where the sense of coming together broadens.