Means | Mean of means in English Dictionary

/ˈmiːnz/

• Noun
• a way of doing something or of achieving a desired result
1. trains, buses, and other means of transportation
2. a means of communication/expression
3. using fingerprints as a means of identification
4. “What's the best means of getting there?” “Public transportation.”
5. The property was obtained by illegal means.
6. He vowed that he would succeed by any means necessary. [=by doing whatever was needed]
7. He would use all/any manner of means to succeed.
8. For her, marrying a rich man was just a means to an end. [=something done only to produce a desired result] All she really cared about was money.
9. How can she survive when she has no visible means of support? [=she has no apparent way to pay for the things that she needs to live]
• the money that someone has
1. He has the means to give you everything you want.
2. His means are enough to pay for college.
3. a man/woman of means [=a wealthy man/woman]
4. She is a woman of independent means. [=she has enough money to support herself without help from others]
5. He enjoys a style of living that is beyond the means of all but the wealthiest people. [=that only the wealthiest people can afford]
6. She was living beyond her means. [=she was spending more money than she could afford to spend]
7. He began to save money when he finally learned to live within his means. [=to spend money only on what he could afford]
• of course
1. “May I come in?” “By all means!”
2. By all means feel free to get a second opinion.

• through the use of (something)
1. He got out of trouble by means of a clever trick.
• in no way
1. It's by no means certain that he'll come. = It's not by any means certain that he'll come.
2. This is by no means the first time we have had this problem.
3. I was not happy about the arrangements by any means, but I agreed to do it.
4. This issue has not been resolved yet by any manner of means.