meant to do something vs mean to do something

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Meant to do something' is used to express that something was intended or planned to be done in the past, while 'mean to do something' is used to express intention or plans for the future.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 1295 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used to express that something was intended or planned to be done in the past.

"meant to do something"

This phrase is used to talk about something that was intended or planned to be done in the past but may not have been completed.

Examples:

I meant to call you yesterday, but I forgot.
She meant to finish her homework before dinner.

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The future holds many exciting opportunities, and Renautas believes you are meant to do something extraordinary.
It's our chance to prove that we're meant to do something extraordinary.
So like a lot of husbands, I decided to spend all my time at work, which for me meant finding something to do on my list.
Met a girl... and that meant something.
Maybe you're meant to solve something she couldn't.
Right now I'm meant to be something else.
This crew is meant to be something bigger.
I meant to bring you something back from France.
I tried to explain to him that this was meant to be something private between his mom and me...
They're deciding somebody based on something meant to vote for someone.
I say something meant to be private, ends up being tweeted everywhere.
And yesterday too. I meant to say something, but it slipped my mind.
I think she meant something a little happier.
'Cause doing a selfie meant something different in my day.
I thought last night meant something special between us, but apparently Catherine doesn't agree.
That it meant something to you.
It meant something to the killer.
That would have meant something to her.
I just thought I meant something to her.
Clearly there was a time when that man meant something to you.

Alternatives:

intended to do something
planned to do something

This phrase is correct and commonly used to express intention or plans for the future.

"mean to do something"

This phrase is used to talk about something that one intends or plans to do in the future.

Examples:

I mean to study harder next semester.
She means to travel around the world someday.

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Now we have the means to do something about it.
I mean, somewhere, some places, someone is starving to death and I have the means to do something about it, to stop it, but I just don't.
I mean we got to do something.
Exactly, and if he's sticking around, it means he's planning to do something big.
I mean, I wanted to do something with that place.
Exactly, and if he's sticking around, it means he's planning to do something big.
Coaxing means that people prefer to do something because they see the benefit of it and I think that the Commissioner has achieved exceptional success in this.
Now, he's just pulled that lever, that means I have to do something.
I mean, ask her to do something or hang out or.
I mean, I had to do something with it, so... I couldn't sell it.
And Dalbir had to prove his loyalty to MAK despite having a non-Muslim girlfriend, which means he had to do something recently to take advantage of said girlfriend.
And you want your dad's life to mean something, don't you?
My husband told me he loved me tonight, which means he wants me to do something bad or something bad's about to happen.
I mean, you got to do something to stop him, right?
Amy, I'm sure that it was nice to take a couple days off and relax but it doesn't mean that you have to do something so rash.
Please tell me that means something.
Bedside manner means something to people.
Unlike my brother, my word actually means something.
A committed relationship that actually means something.
Everything always means something in Latin.

Alternatives:

intend to do something
plan to do something

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meant to do something vs mean to do something