meaningful
MEE-nihng-fl
Meaningful (adj) means Full of significance or purpose; important in a deep or personal way. Example: “Volunteering at the shelter was a meaningful way to spend the summer.”
adj
1
Full of significance or purpose; important in a deep or personal way.
"Volunteering at the shelter was a meaningful way to spend the summer."
"They had a meaningful conversation about their future together."
"She wanted a career that felt meaningful, not just profitable."
How to use meaningful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes something that carries real significance or emotional weight, rather than being empty or trivial.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
meaningful relationship
meaningful change
meaningful work
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like meaningful.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more meaningful
- Superlative
- most meaningful
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Volunteering at the shelter was a _____ way to spend the summer.
Etymology
Formed from meaning plus the suffix -ful.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “meaningful” mean?
The word “meaningful” means full of significance or purpose; important in a deep or personal way. In plain terms, describes something that carries real significance or emotional weight, rather than being empty or trivial.
How do you pronounce “meaningful”?
“Meaningful” is pronounced MEE-nihng-fl (/ˈmi.nɪŋ.fl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “meaningful” in a sentence?
Here is “meaningful” used in a sentence: “They had a meaningful conversation about their future together.”
What is the opposite of “meaningful”?
The opposite of “meaningful” — its antonyms — are meaningless and inane.
What part of speech is “meaningful”?
“Meaningful” is an adjective.
Is “meaningful” a common word?
“Meaningful” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "meaningful" and "significant"?
"Significant" often means important in scale or effect and is common in measurement, as in "a significant increase." "Meaningful" stresses deeper personal value or purpose, as in "a meaningful conversation."
What is the difference between "meaningful" and "important"?
"Important" means having great value, consequence, or influence. "Meaningful" adds a sense of personal significance or emotional depth, so a meaningful gesture matters to someone personally, not just practically.
What words commonly go with "meaningful"?
"Meaningful" often pairs with "relationship," "conversation," "connection," "work," and "change." These collocations highlight things valued for their depth or purpose.
What is the opposite of "meaningful"?
The direct opposite is "meaningless," describing something without significance or purpose. "Inane," meaning silly and empty of substance, is a related word for something that lacks depth.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include meaningful:
