mean to say

verb

To imply or intend to convey with one's words; used to correct or clarify one's previous utterance, or to seek such clarification.

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Meanings

verbmean to say (third-person singular simple present means to say, present participle meaning to say, simple past and past participle meant to say)

present singular third person means to say · participle present meaning to say · participle past meant to say · past meant to say

  1. To imply or intend to convey with one's words; used to correct or clarify one's previous utterance, or to seek such clarification.

    "You wicked boy, do you mean to say you've left those poor children there alone in the pigstye?"

    1919, H. H. Munro, “Hyacinth”, in The Toys of Peace and Other Papers
    1 more example

    "[…] It is a match that must give universal satisfaction. In short, it is a kind of thing that" — lowering his voice to an important whisper — "will be exceedingly welcome to all parties." Recollecting himself, however, he added, "That is, I mean to say—your friends are all truly anxious to see you well settled; Fanny particularly […]"

    1811, Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility
Cite this entry
APA

mean to say. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mean%20to%20say

MLA

“mean to say.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mean%20to%20say. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mean to say,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mean%20to%20say.

Source: mean to say on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.