Here are 30 phrasal verbs with **mean**, each explained with detailed examples to help clarify how they are used: 1. **mean to** – **to intend to do something** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to having a purpose or intention. **Extended meaning:** “to” adds the sense of directing that intention toward a specific action. • _I meant to call you, but I forgot._ (The speaker had the intention of calling but didn’t follow through.) • _He didn’t mean to hurt your feelings._ (His intention wasn’t to cause emotional pain.) 2. **mean well** – **to have good intentions** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “well” adds the sense of positive or good intentions, even if the outcome isn’t perfect. • _She meant well, but her advice wasn’t very helpful._ (Her intentions were good, but the result wasn’t effective.) • _Even though he’s harsh, he means well._ (His intentions are positive, despite how he expresses them.) 3. **mean for** – **to intend something for a specific purpose or person** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intending something. **Extended meaning:** “for” adds the sense of directing the intention toward a specific person or purpose. • _This message was meant for you._ (The message was intended for you specifically.) • _The gift was meant for her birthday, but I gave it early._ (The gift was intended for her birthday celebration.) 4. **mean business** – **to be serious about something** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “business” adds the sense of being serious or determined. • _When he raised his voice, I knew he meant business._ (The speaker recognizes that the person is serious.) • _You can tell she means business when she talks about her career._ (She’s serious about her career.) 5. **mean it** – **to be sincere or serious about what is said** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to having intention behind words. **Extended meaning:** “it” refers to the statement or action in question, adding the sense of sincerity. • _When I say I love you, I mean it._ (The speaker is sincere in their expression of love.) • _He apologized, but I don’t think he really meant it._ (The speaker doubts the sincerity of the apology.) 6. **mean something by** – **to imply or intend a specific meaning** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “by” adds the sense of what is implied or intended by words or actions. • _What did you mean by that comment?_ (The speaker is asking for clarification of what the comment implied.) • _He meant something deeper by his statement._ (His words had a more profound implication than what was obvious.) 7. **mean harm** – **to have the intention of causing damage or hurt** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “harm” adds the sense of intending to cause damage or hurt. • _I’m sure he didn’t mean harm with his joke._ (The speaker believes the joke wasn’t intended to hurt.) • _She meant harm when she spread that rumor._ (Her intention was to cause damage through gossip.) 8. **mean the world to** – **to be extremely important to someone** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to importance. **Extended meaning:** “the world to” adds the sense of something being of the highest significance. • _You mean the world to me._ (The person is extremely important to the speaker.) • _That job meant the world to him, so losing it was devastating._ (The job was of great significance to him.) 9. **mean something for** – **to designate something for a specific use or person** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention or designation. **Extended meaning:** “for” adds the sense of directing the intention toward a specific purpose or individual. • _I meant this gift for your wedding, but I forgot to give it to you._ (The gift was designated for a special occasion.) • _This advice is meant for your benefit._ (The advice is intended to help you.) 10. **mean the best** – **to have positive intentions, even if the outcome is not perfect** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “the best” adds the sense of having the most positive intentions. • _I know she was harsh, but she meant the best._ (Her intentions were positive, even if her delivery wasn’t.) • _He meant the best by giving you that feedback._ (His feedback was intended to be helpful.) 11. **mean everything to** – **to be of utmost importance to someone** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to importance. **Extended meaning:** “everything to” adds the sense of something being the most significant aspect in someone’s life. • _His family means everything to him._ (His family is the most important thing in his life.) • _Her career means everything to her, and she works hard for it._ (Her career is her top priority.) 12. **mean ill** – **to have bad intentions** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “ill” adds the sense of having negative or harmful intentions. • _I don’t mean ill, but I have to be honest._ (The speaker doesn’t intend harm, even though they’re being honest.) • _He clearly means ill with his accusations._ (His accusations are intended to harm someone.) 13. **mean by it** – **to intend a specific meaning or action** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “by it” adds the sense of specifying the intention behind a particular action or statement. • _What do you mean by it when you say that?_ (The speaker is asking for clarification about the intention.) • _He didn’t mean by it to offend anyone._ (He didn’t intend to cause offense with his statement.) 14. **mean for someone to do something** – **to intend for someone to perform an action** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “for someone to” adds the sense of intending for another person to perform a specific action. • _I meant for you to take care of the problem yesterday._ (The speaker intended for the other person to handle the issue.) • _Did you mean for me to submit the report today?_ (The speaker is asking if submitting the report today was the intended action.) 15. **mean more than** – **to be more important or significant than something else** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to importance. **Extended meaning:** “more than” adds the sense of comparing two things, indicating that one is more important. • _Your friendship means more to me than any gift._ (The friendship is more valuable than material things.) • _Success means more than just money to her._ (Success holds greater value beyond financial gain.) 16. **mean nothing by** – **to have no negative or harmful intention** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “nothing by” adds the sense of clarifying that no harm or negative implication was intended. • _I meant nothing by that comment._ (The speaker didn’t intend to offend or cause harm with the comment.) • _Don’t worry, he meant nothing by it._ (The speaker reassures that the other person didn’t have bad intentions.) 17. **mean well by** – **to have good intentions regarding a specific action or comment** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “well by” adds the sense of having good intentions, even if the result wasn’t ideal. • _She meant well by offering to help, even though it wasn’t needed._ (Her intention to help was positive, but it wasn’t necessary.) • _He meant well by giving advice, but it came across as rude._ (His intention was positive, but the delivery seemed rude.) 18. **mean to be** – **to be destined or intended for a particular purpose** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention or destiny. **Extended meaning:** “to be” adds the sense of being intended or destined for something. • _They were meant to be together._ (They were destined to be in a relationship.) • _This project was meant to be successful from the start._ (The project was intended to succeed from the beginning.) 19. **mean well for** – **to have good intentions toward someone** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “well for” adds the sense of having positive intentions for another person’s well-being. • _She means well for her students and always offers help._ (She has good intentions toward her students.) • _He meant well for his friend by advising him to be careful._ (His intention was to protect his friend with the advice.) 20. **mean nothing to** – **to have no importance or significance to someone** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to importance. **Extended meaning:** “nothing to” adds the sense of something being irrelevant or insignificant to someone. • _The promotion means nothing to me anymore._ (The promotion holds no importance.) • _Money means nothing to him; he values experiences more._ (Money is not important to him compared to life experiences.) 21. **mean to hurt** – **to intend to cause emotional or physical pain** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “to hurt” adds the sense of causing harm or pain. • _I didn’t mean to hurt you with my words._ (The speaker didn’t intend to cause emotional pain.) • _He meant to hurt her feelings with that comment._ (His intention was to cause emotional pain.) 22. **mean something to** – **to be of importance or value to someone** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to importance. **Extended meaning:** “to” adds the sense of directing that importance toward someone. • _This ring means something special to me._ (The ring holds sentimental value for the speaker.) • _His approval means a lot to her._ (His approval is very important to her.) 23. **mean well by doing** – **to have good intentions by performing an action** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “well by doing” adds the sense of having positive intentions in performing an action. • _She meant well by offering to help, but it wasn’t necessary._ (Her intention was good, but the help wasn’t needed.) • _He meant well by giving advice, but it was misunderstood._ (His intention was positive, but the advice wasn’t received well.) 24. **mean to offend** – **to intend to insult or upset someone** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “to offend” adds the sense of intending to hurt someone’s feelings. • _I didn’t mean to offend you with my joke._ (The speaker didn’t intend to cause offense.) • _She meant to offend her opponent during the argument._ (Her intention was to hurt the other person’s feelings.) 25. **mean well in** – **to have good intentions within a specific context or situation** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “well in” adds the sense of having positive intentions within a certain context. • _He meant well in his advice, even if it wasn’t helpful._ (His intentions were positive within the advice-giving situation.) • _She meant well in offering to drive, but I preferred to walk._ (Her offer was kind, though the speaker didn’t need it.) 26. **mean harm by** – **to intend to cause harm through a specific action or statement** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “harm by” adds the sense of intending to cause hurt or damage through words or actions. • _He didn’t mean harm by his harsh words._ (He didn’t intend for his words to cause harm.) • _She clearly meant harm by spreading those rumors._ (Her intention was to hurt someone through gossip.) 27. **mean business in** – **to be serious about a specific action or situation** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to seriousness or intention. **Extended meaning:** “business in” adds the sense of being serious or determined within a particular context. • _When he speaks about safety, he means business in his job._ (He is serious about safety in his professional role.) • _She means business in every negotiation._ (She approaches negotiations with seriousness and focus.) 28. **mean well despite** – **to have good intentions despite negative circumstances** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to intention. **Extended meaning:** “well despite” adds the sense of having positive intentions even in difficult situations. • _He meant well despite the misunderstanding._ (His intentions were good, though a misunderstanding occurred.) • _She meant well despite the tough conversation._ (Her intention was positive, despite the difficulty of the conversation.) 29. **mean nothing at all** – **to be of no importance whatsoever** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to importance. **Extended meaning:** “nothing at all” emphasizes the complete lack of significance. • _His past mistakes mean nothing at all to me now._ (The mistakes are completely irrelevant to the speaker.) • _The criticism means nothing at all to her._ (The criticism holds no weight or importance.) 30. **mean trouble** – **to indicate or signal impending problems** **Base meaning:** “mean” refers to suggesting or indicating. **Extended meaning:** “trouble” adds the sense of signaling that problems or conflict are likely. • _The dark clouds mean trouble for our picnic plans._ (The clouds indicate that bad weather is coming.) • _His angry tone meant trouble during the meeting._ (The tone indicated that conflict or problems were about to happen.) These phrasal verbs with **mean** demonstrate how the verb can be combined with different prepositions and adverbs to create various meanings, ranging from simple intentions to deeper implications and emotions. Each explanation and example will help clarify how these phrasal verbs are used in context.