The verb to mean · Conjugation
Past Simple of mean
The answer: meant
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to mean is meant.
Example: I didn't mean to be rude.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | meant |
| You | meant |
| He / She / It | meant |
| We | meant |
| You (pl.) | meant |
| They | meant |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Meant is said /ment/
Not /miːnd/! In meant, the letters ea make a short sound, like in bread, head and dead.
2. Meaned ❌
Mean is irregular. Its Past Simple is meant, never meaned.
3. Mean + to + verb
To talk about a plan, use mean to + verb: I meant to call you = I planned to call you (but I didn't). I didn't mean to hurt you = I did not want to hurt you.
Practice quiz
Going further
The English contest tests the Past Simple of mean in real sentences
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of mean?+
The Past Simple of mean is meant (said /ment/), the same for every person. The past participle is also meant.
How do you pronounce meant?+
Meant is /ment/, and it rhymes with bent and sent. The letters ea sound like the e in bed, not like the long sound in mean /miːn/.
How do you ask what a word means?+
Ask What does … mean?: What does “huge” mean? It is a very useful question when you want a definition.
Is it didn't mean or didn't meant?+
Say didn't mean: I didn't mean to hurt you. After didn't, the verb goes back to its base form (mean, not meant). People use it a lot to say sorry.
Why is it not meaned?+
Mean is irregular, like keep → kept. Its Past Simple is meant, never meaned.
Related pages: mean Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/mean/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to mean are coming soon.