1. Mean as "unkind" or "cruel":
* "The bully's mean words hurt her feelings." (Describes someone's unkind actions or words)
* "It was mean of him to laugh at her mistake." (Emphasizes the unkind nature of an action)
2. Mean as "average":
* "The mean temperature in January is usually below freezing." (Indicates an average value)
* "The mean salary for teachers in this district is $55,000." (Represents the average salary)
3. Mean as "intend":
* "I mean to finish my homework tonight." (Expresses intention)
* "What do you mean by that?" (Asking for clarification of someone's intention)
4. Mean as "significant":
* "This is a mean feat of engineering." (Indicates something impressive or significant)
* "He's a mean poker player." (Describes someone who is very skilled at something)
5. Mean as "stingy" or "unwilling to share:
* "He's too mean to share his toys." (Describes someone who is unwilling to share)
* "The company is being mean with its profits." (Describes someone who is unwilling to spend money)
The meaning of "mean" depends on the context of the sentence. Be sure to choose the meaning that best fits the situation.