Base
What does this word mean?
After does, the verb stays in its base form.
Past Tense of Mean: Meant
Mean is an irregular verb. The past simple and the past participle are the same form: meant. The sound also changes, from meen to ment.
Base
mean
Past
meant
Past participle
meant
Third person: means · -ing form: meaning
ABB: form patternExamples
Base
I mean every word I say.
Here mean describes what you truly think.
Past
I meant to call you last night.
Meant to describes a plan that did not happen.
Past
Sorry, I meant Tuesday, not Monday.
Meant is the past of mean, even when you correct yourself.
Past participle
I have always meant to visit Japan.
Have meant links the past to now.
Past participle
Mary has meant to learn Spanish for years.
Has meant is present perfect.
Usage notes
A different vowel sound
Mean sounds like meen, but meant has a short vowel and sounds like ment. Do not pronounce meant like mean plus t.
Mean or means?
Add s only after he, she or it in the present: This sign means stop. After does or did, use plain mean: What does it mean?
Mean can also describe a person
As an adjective, mean describes someone unkind: Don't be mean to your brother. Here it has no past form because it is not a verb.
Common mistakes
What means this word?
What does this word mean?
Questions with mean use does and the base form, not means before the subject.
I meaned to call you.
I meant to call you.
Mean is irregular, so the past is meant, not meaned.
What does this word means?
What does this word mean?
After does, the main verb has no s.
Practise this verb
0/8
Choose the right form
Choose the form that completes each English sentence.
1.I ___ to call you yesterday, but I forgot.
2.What does this word ___?
3.She has always ___ to learn to swim.
4.On the road, a red light ___ stop.
Write the missing form
Type the correct form of mean in each sentence.
Correct the mistake
Rewrite the English sentence with the correct verb form.
8.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
Answer key
1. I ___ to call you yesterday, but I forgot.
Answer: meant
Yesterday is finished, so use the past form meant.
2. What does this word ___?
Answer: mean
After does, use the base form mean.
3. She has always ___ to learn to swim.
Answer: meant
After has, use the past participle meant.
4. On the road, a red light ___ stop.
Answer: means
With it or a singular noun in the present, add s: means.
5. He ___ to help, but he was too late.
Answer: meant
The story is finished, so use meant.
6. I have never ___ to hurt anyone.
Answer: meant
Have never plus the participle is have never meant.
7. What does this sign ___?
Answer: mean
After does, use the base form mean.
8. She meaned to say sorry.
Answer: She meant to say sorry.
Mean is irregular: the past is meant.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of mean?
The past tense of mean is meant: I meant to call you.
What is the past participle of mean?
The past participle is also meant: I have meant to tell you.
How do you pronounce meant?
Meant is pronounced like ment, with a short e, not like mean.