meet
meet
Meet (verb) means to come face to face with someone, whether by chance or by arrangement. Example: “I met an old friend at the supermarket completely by accident.”
verb
1
To come face to face with someone, whether by chance or by arrangement.
"I met an old friend at the supermarket completely by accident."
"We agreed to meet outside the cinema at seven."
"I will meet you at the station if you text me when you arrive."
2
To come together with others for a discussion, event, or contest.
"The committee meets every Tuesday morning."
"The two teams meet in the final next week."
"Local residents will meet tonight to discuss the plans for the park."
3
To touch, join, or come into contact with something, often where two things converge.
"The road meets the coast just past the village."
"Their eyes met across the crowded room."
"The two streams meet below the old stone bridge."
4
To satisfy a requirement, need, or standard.
"The proposal meets all of the safety requirements."
"Unfortunately, her essay did not meet the standard the course required."
"The charity works hard to meet the needs of families who have lost their homes."
noun
1
An organized sporting event, especially in athletics or swimming.
"She set a personal best at the regional track meet."
"Our swimming club is hosting a meet at the leisure centre this weekend."
"He travelled to a track meet where he competed in the long jump."
How to use meet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo come together with a person or thing, whether socially, physically, or by satisfying some standard.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "meat" (food) or "mete" (to measure out) — all three sound identical.
Common pairings
meet a deadline
meet someone halfway
nice to meet you
meet the requirements
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Word forms
- Plural
- meets
- Third person singular
- meets
- Past tense
- met
- Comparative
- meeter
- Superlative
- meetest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We agreed to _____ outside the cinema at seven.
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."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for meet
See all rhymes for 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.
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