mean to take

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mean to take" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing intention or purpose regarding an action or decision. Example: "I didn't mean to take your book without asking; I thought it was mine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

"I didn't mean to take lives.

The New York Times

"I thought maybe they didn't mean to take his life.

The Guardian - Music

I don't mean to take a position yet.

The New York Times

"I did not mean to take the money.

The New York Times - Books

I don't mean to take away from my daughter's own accomplishments.

The New York Times

"I do not mean to take away the mystery of Leonardo," Dr. Livingstone said.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

"Udaan" means "to take flight".

The New York Times

"Cognizance" means to take jurisdiction of, to take authoritative notice.

The New York Times

"I meant to take that one out," he said.

The New York Times - Magazine

Anyway, I only meant to take a quick look.

The New Yorker

"It's probably something meant to take advantage of politics.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mean to take", ensure clarity about the intention behind the action. For instance, specify what is intended to be taken to avoid ambiguity. I didn't "mean to take" your parking spot, but it was the only one available.

Common error

Avoid using "mean to take" when describing unintentional actions. Replace it with phrases like "didn't intend to" or "accidentally took" to accurately convey the lack of deliberate intent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mean to take" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating intention or purpose, similar to "intend to". It's commonly used to express whether an action was deliberate or unintentional, as shown in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "mean to take" is a versatile verb phrase used to express intention or purpose regarding an action. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts, particularly in news and media. It is characterized by a neutral register, making it appropriate for a range of situations. While alternatives such as "intend to take" or "plan to take" exist, "mean to take" provides a direct and clear way to communicate whether an action was deliberate or not.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intend to get

Replaces "take" with "get", implying acquisition or receipt rather than action.

plan to acquire

Substitutes "mean" with "plan" and "take" with "acquire", suggesting a deliberate strategy for obtaining something.

aim to secure

Uses "aim" instead of "mean" and "secure" instead of "take", indicating a goal-oriented approach to obtaining something safely.

aspire to receive

Replaces "mean" with "aspire" and "take" with "receive", denoting a desire to be given something.

desire to obtain

Employs "desire" instead of "mean" and "obtain" instead of "take", emphasizing a strong wish to get something.

hope to gain

Uses "hope" instead of "mean" and "gain" instead of "take", implying an optimistic expectation of acquiring something.

purpose to assume

Substitutes "mean" with "purpose" and "take" with "assume", indicating a deliberate intention to take on a responsibility.

resolve to seize

Replaces "mean" with "resolve" and "take" with "seize", suggesting a firm decision to take something forcefully.

try to capture

Uses "try" instead of "mean" and "capture" instead of "take", implying an attempt to gain control or possession.

expect to collect

Replaces "mean" with "expect" and "take" with "collect", denoting an anticipation of gathering something.

FAQs

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

You can use "mean to take" to express an intention or purpose regarding an action. For example, "I didn't "mean to take" your pen; I thought it was mine."

What's a more formal way to say "mean to take"?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "intend to take" or "plan to take", depending on the specific context.

What can I say instead of "I didn't mean to take" when apologizing?

When apologizing, you could say "I didn't intend to take" or "I "didn't realize I took"" to express that the action was unintentional.

Is "mean to take" always used for physical objects?

No, "mean to take" can be used in both concrete and abstract contexts. For example, "What does it "mean to take" responsibility for one's life?" shows an abstract usage.