C1adjective2K

Meaningful

UK /["/ˈmiːnɪŋfl/"]/US /["/ˈmiːnɪŋfl/"]/

Definition

serious and important

In simple words: full of meaning or importance

Examples

  • a **meaningful relationship/discussion/experience**
  • These statistics are not very meaningful.
  • She gave me a **meaningful look**.

Usage notes

Use 'meaningful' in contexts where you want to describe something that has depth or importance. Avoid it in casual conversations that focus on trivial matters.

Grammar pattern

meaningful + noun

Memory hint

Think of 'mean' as important, and 'ful' as full. So 'meaningful' is full of meaning.

Collocations

  • meaningful conversation
  • meaningful life
  • meaningful impact
  • meaningful connections

Synonyms

  • significant
  • important
  • valuable
  • purposeful
  • substantial

Antonyms

  • meaningless
  • insignificant
  • trivial

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'meaningless'
  • Incorrectly used to describe physical objects rather than experiences or relationships
  • Used with an incorrect noun, e.g., saying 'meaningful meeting' instead of 'meaningful conclusions'