mean ‧ ing ‧ ful /ˈmiːnɪŋf ə l/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ meaningful , ↑ meaningless ; verb : ↑ mean ; noun : ↑ meaning ; adverb : ↑ meaningfully ]
1 . having a meaning that is easy to understand and makes sense:
Without more data we cannot make a meaningful comparison of the two systems.
Teaching history to five-year-olds in a meaningful way can be very difficult.
meaningful to
Rules must be put in a context that is meaningful to the children.
2 . meaningful look/glance/smile etc a look that clearly expresses the way someone feels, even though nothing is said:
Sam and Barbara exchanged meaningful glances.
3 . serious, important, or useful:
They want a chance to do meaningful work.
I want a mature and meaningful relationship.
a meaningful conversation
—meaningfully adverb