mean well

verb

To have good intentions; to do with a noble or positive purpose in mind.

“These programs mean well, but they're just counterproductive.”

Opposite
mean ill
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Meanings

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

present singular third person means well · participle present meaning well · participle past meant well · past meant well

  1. To have good intentions; to do with a noble or positive purpose in mind.

    These programs mean well, but they're just counterproductive.

    Antonyms: mean ill

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo have good intentions; to do with a noble or positive purpose in mind.

Opposite
mean ill

Translations

Finnish tarkoittaa hyvää
  • tarkoittaa hyväädo with a positive intention
French vouloir bien faire
  • vouloir bien fairedo with a positive intention
Italian fare a fin di bene
  • fare a fin di benedo with a positive intention
Polish chcieć dobrze
  • chcieć dobrzedo with a positive intention
Cite this entry
APA

mean well. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mean%20well

MLA

“mean well.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mean%20well. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mean well,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mean%20well.

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