has been meaning

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been meaning" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used to indicate that something has been intended or planned for a period of time up until the present moment. Example: "I apologize for not being able to attend the meeting, I have been meaning to come, but unfortunately, something urgent came up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Probably not, but the poet has been meaning to check out Miami anyway — and free verse is really, really hard.

The New Yorker

One of my friends has been meaning to fax his health insurance company to stop an overcharge worth hundreds of dollars each month.

The New York Times

There was a cheeky little sequence on "Mad Men" last week in which a friend tells Don Draper that he has been meaning to ask him to a baseball game.

The New York Times - Sports

James lives within walking distance of the office, which is probably just as well, since he has been meaning to get a new car to replace his dying Honda for more than a year now.

The New Yorker

Well, 66percentt of their customers say that their satisfaction with the air travel experience either is about same as it always has been (meaning it's still pretty awful) or has gotten even worse.

Forbes

Make it thoughtful, like a sweater your friend was ogling last week at the mall, a book your friend has been meaning to read, or an album you know your friend will really love; that way, your friend will see that you really care.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

I've been meaning to".

The New York Times - Magazine

We've been meaning to go".

The New Yorker

I've been meaning to read it for many years.

Independent

"I've been meaning to make this call".

The New York Times

I've been meaning to look into renters' insurance.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been meaning" to express an ongoing intention that has not yet been fulfilled, often implying a degree of procrastination or delay.

Common error

Avoid using "has been meaning" when referring to a completed action. The phrase implies an ongoing, unfulfilled intention. Instead, use "meant to" or "intended to" for past, completed intentions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been meaning" functions as a present perfect continuous construction, indicating an action that started in the past and continues to the present, specifically referring to an ongoing intention. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. Examples show its usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been meaning" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to convey an ongoing intention or a planned action that remains unfulfilled. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, and its presence across diverse sources, from The New York Times to WikiHow, highlights its widespread usage. While it fits well in neutral contexts, slightly more formal alternatives exist for professional settings. Remember to use it to express intent, but not completion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intended to

Focuses more on the original intention, rather than the duration of the delay.

meant to

Similar to "intended to", but can also imply a sense of obligation or destiny.

had every intention of

Emphasizes the strength of the initial plan or desire.

fully intended to

Like "had every intention of", strengthens initial desire to do something.

planned to

Highlights the planning stage more than the ongoing intention.

was going to

Indicates a past plan that was not executed, without necessarily implying an ongoing intention.

wanted to

Emphasizes the desire rather than the planning or intention.

considered

Implies thinking about something without necessarily forming a firm intention.

thought about

A less formal version of “considered”, implies a casual contemplation of something.

never got around to

Highlights the failure to act, rather than the initial intention.

FAQs

How do I use "has been meaning" in a sentence?

Use "has been meaning" to describe an intention that someone has had for some time but hasn't acted on yet. For example, "She "has been meaning" to call her mother all week."

What's a more formal alternative to "has been meaning"?

While "has been meaning" is suitable for most contexts, "has intended to" offers a slightly more formal tone, especially in written communication.

Is it correct to say "had been meaning" instead of "has been meaning"?

Yes, "had been meaning" is correct but refers to an intention in the past, before another point in the past. "Has been meaning" refers to an intention starting in the past and continuing to the present.

What's the difference between "has been meaning to" and "meant to"?

"Has been meaning to" describes an ongoing intention, while "meant to" can refer to a past intention, whether fulfilled or not. "I "meant to" call you yesterday (but I forgot)" vs "I "have been meaning to" call you (but haven't gotten around to it yet)".