mean to me

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mean to me" is a grammatically correct and frequently-used expression in written English.
For example, you could say "He said something really hurtful; it was really mean to me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"What does it mean to me today?

The New Yorker

What did he mean to me?

The New Yorker

"That's what it would mean to me".

The New York Times - Sports

"They're being mean to me," she said.

The New York Times

What does the Commonwealth mean to me?

The Guardian

Ali is being mean to me.

The New Yorker

But what does he mean to me?

The Guardian - Books

That's how much the Tigers mean to me," Kitaru said.

The New Yorker

I didn't realize how much it would mean to me.

The Washington Post

I mean to me that's already been amply demonstrated.

The New York Times

That's what it's come to mean to me.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mean to me" to express personal significance or emotional impact. Ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is doing the meaning.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly stating what or who holds the meaning. For example, instead of "It doesn't mean much", specify "The gift doesn't mean much to me".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mean to me" functions as a declarative expression to convey the personal significance or emotional impact of something on the speaker. This is supported by Ludwig, which shows numerous examples of the phrase used in this way.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mean to me" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey personal significance or emotional impact. Ludwig provides numerous examples from diverse sources, confirming its widespread usage. The phrase is generally neutral in register, appearing frequently in news and media, but can be adapted to both formal and informal contexts. According to Ludwig AI, it serves to personalize statements and highlight the speaker's individual connection to a topic. While straightforward, clarity is essential: ensure the subject of "mean" is explicitly stated to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

signify to me

Emphasizes the importance or significance of something to the speaker.

matter to me

Focuses on the importance or relevance of something to the speaker.

hold importance for me

Highlights the value or significance that something has for the speaker.

be significant to me

Stresses the importance or consequence of something in relation to the speaker.

have relevance for me

Highlights the connection or applicability of something to the speaker's life or situation.

be of consequence to me

Emphasizes the importance or impact of something on the speaker.

resonate with me

Focuses on the emotional or personal connection that something has with the speaker.

strike a chord with me

Highlights the emotional or personal resonance that something has with the speaker.

carry weight for me

Focuses on the impact and/or influence on the speaker.

register with me

Highlights the impression something makes on the speaker.

FAQs

How can I use "mean to me" in a sentence?

You can use "mean to me" to express how important something is to you. For example, "This award doesn't "signify to me"" or "Your support means the world to me".

What's the difference between "mean to me" and "meant for me"?

"Mean to me" expresses personal significance or emotional impact, while "meant for me" suggests destiny or suitability. For instance, "This gift means a lot to me" versus "This opportunity was meant for me".

Which is correct, "means to me" or "mean to me"?

"Mean to me" is correct when expressing personal importance or impact in the present tense. "Means to me" would only be correct if you are referring to a third person.

What can I say instead of "mean to me"?

You can use alternatives such as "matter to me", "significant to me", or "hold importance for me depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.