meet
meet — verb
1. to see, speak to, and become acquainted with someone you did not know before.
to see, speak to, and become acquainted with someone you did not know before.
Sari met her new boss for the first time at the office party.
meet + someone for the first time at a social event
Have you met my cousin Sayaka? She just moved here from Tokyo.
introductory question: have you met …
The two writers met at a book fair in Berlin and became close friends.
I would like you to meet my parents when you visit us next month.
- meet someone for the first time
- nice to meet you
- meet someone at a party
- get to know
Emphasises the gradual process of becoming acquainted rather than the single first encounter.
- be introduced to
More formal; used when a third person presents you to someone.
Grammar Patterns
meet + person (for the first time)
Usage Note
This sense is often used in polite introductions. A common fixed phrase is 'Nice to meet you.'
Common Mistakes
2. to gather with a person or group by plan, usually to talk, share a meal, or do a
to gather with a person or group by plan, usually to talk, share a meal, or do an activity together.
Constanza meets her study group every Tuesday afternoon in the library.
meet + group + on a regular schedule
The board of directors will meet tomorrow to discuss the quarterly results.
Sven and Layla met for coffee after work to catch up on each other's news.
meet + for + purpose
Our sales team meets every Monday morning to review the weekly goals.
- meet for coffee
- meet a client
- meet in the office
- meet regularly
- get together
More informal; suggests a social or casual gathering.
- assemble
More formal; used for groups gathering for an official purpose.
- gather
Neutral; can be used for people coming together for any reason.
Grammar Patterns
meet + someone (by arrangement)
meet + for + purpose
meet + to + infinitive
Usage Note
Common with time/place adverbials. Can be used transitively ('meet a client') or intransitively ('let's meet at noon').
Common Mistakes
3. to see and talk with someone you did not expect to run into, because you both ha
to see and talk with someone you did not expect to run into, because you both happen to be somewhere at once.
Otis met his old neighbour at the supermarket and they talked for nearly an hour.
meet + someone + by chance at a place
I met a former classmate on the train this morning on my way to work.
Walking through the park, Élise met her yoga teacher walking her dog.
You will never guess who I met at the library yesterday — your cousin Ishaan!
exclamatory pattern: you'll never guess who I met
- meet by chance
- meet unexpectedly
- meet someone at the store
Grammar Patterns
meet + person + by chance
meet + person + at/in/on + place
Usage Note
The element of surprise is central. Unlike sense 2, the meeting is not planned. Often interchangeable with 'bump into' or 'run into' in informal speech.
4. to be good enough to achieve or satisfy a particular standard, need, condition,
to be good enough to achieve or satisfy a particular standard, need, condition, or expectation.
The new security system meets all the safety standards required by law.
meet + a standard / requirement
Christopher's current salary is not enough to meet his family's monthly expenses.
Does the hotel meet your expectations for a five-star experience?
Sari worked late every night to meet the project deadline.
meet + a deadline
The school must meet certain government standards to keep its funding.
- meet a requirement
- meet a deadline
- meet expectations
- meet a need
- satisfy
Very close in meaning; 'meet' is slightly more common with deadlines and formal criteria.
- fulfil
Slightly more formal; often used with conditions, duties, or promises.
- live up to
Informal; focuses on meeting expectations or reputation.
- fall short of
Used when something fails to reach a required standard.
Grammar Patterns
meet + requirement/need/standard/deadline
Usage Note
Frequently used with abstract nouns as the object: needs, requirements, conditions, standards, expectations, deadlines. The object is rarely a person.
Common Mistakes
5. to have or provide enough money to pay for a cost, debt, bill, or other financia
to have or provide enough money to pay for a cost, debt, bill, or other financial obligation.
The charity raised enough money to meet the family's medical expenses.
meet + expenses / costs
After losing his job, Asher struggled to meet his monthly rent payments.
The insurance company agreed to meet the full cost of the repairs.
We need to put aside more money to meet the tuition fees next semester.
- meet the cost
- meet expenses
- meet a debt
- meet payments
Grammar Patterns
meet + costs/expenses/debts/bills
Usage Note
The object is always a financial item — cost, expense, debt, bill, payment. This sense is slightly formal and most common in business or financial contexts.
Common Mistakes
6. to head to a location and stay there until an expected person shows up, usually
to head to a location and stay there until an expected person shows up, usually to greet them.
Cole went to the airport to meet his parents when they flew in from London.
meet + someone + at a transport hub
A driver in a black suit met the ambassador at the train platform.
Tendai asked his brother to meet him at the bus station after dark.
meet + someone + at a bus station / airport / station
Sayaka's host family met her at the airport with a large welcome sign.
- meet someone at the airport
- meet someone at the station
- meet the train
- meet the bus
Grammar Patterns
meet + someone + at + place
Usage Note
Strongly associated with transport locations (airport, station, bus stop, port). The purpose is to receive or welcome someone who is arriving, not to do an activity together.
7. When two or more objects, surfaces, or geographical features meet, they touch ea
When two or more objects, surfaces, or geographical features meet, they touch each other or connect at a particular point — for example, where two rivers join or where a curtain edge touches another edge.
The two rivers meet just south of the old stone bridge.
intransitive: geographical features meet
The edge of the wooden bookshelf meets the wall at a right angle.
transitive: something meets something at [point]
The curtains do not quite meet in the middle of the window.
intransitive with negation: things do not meet
Where the dry desert meets the blue ocean, the view is unforgettable.
The railway tracks meet at a station just outside the capital.
- rivers meet
- roads meet
- edges meet
- curtains meet
- tracks meet
- meet at a point
- meet at the junction
Grammar Patterns
two things meet
something meets something
Usage Note
Common with geographical features such as rivers, roads, and railways, as well as physical objects such as edges and surfaces. The preposition 'at' typically specifies the meeting point.
Common Mistakes
8. To experience or encounter a particular situation, reaction, or treatment, espec
To experience or encounter a particular situation, reaction, or treatment, especially one that is unexpected or difficult — for example, meeting with strong resistance to a plan, or meeting a warm welcome upon arrival.
Chidi's suggestion met with strong opposition from the village elders.
meet with + opposition/resistance
The charity's appeal met an overwhelming response from the public.
meet + reaction: direct object without 'with'
Devika met with a serious ankle injury while training for the marathon.
The new safety rules met with widespread approval from factory workers.
Karim's proposal met a cold reception from the management team.
- meet with resistance
- meet with approval
- meet with opposition
- meet with success
- meet with failure
- meet a response
- meet a reaction
Grammar Patterns
meet with + reaction/response
meet + something (direct object)
Usage Note
Often uses the pattern 'meet with + abstract noun' (resistance, approval, criticism, success, failure). The subject is typically an idea, proposal, action, or the person affected by the reaction. 'Meet + direct object' (without 'with') is also possible but less common in this sense.
Common Mistakes
9. To compete against another person or team in a sports match, game, or contest —
To compete against another person or team in a sports match, game, or contest — for example, two teams meeting in a cup final or a chess player meeting the reigning champion.
Japan will meet Brazil in the final match of the tournament.
meet [team] in [competition]
The two chess champions meet again next month for the world title.
intransitive: two opponents meet for [prize]
Benjamin's team meets their strongest rivals in Saturday's semi-final.
The young swimmer met the Olympic champion in the hundred-metre race.
The top two clubs meet this weekend to decide the championship.
- meet in the final
- meet opponents
- meet in a match
- teams meet
- champions meet
- meet for the title
Grammar Patterns
two opponents meet
somebody meets somebody in [competition]
Usage Note
Common in sports journalism and tournament contexts. When one team is the subject, the verb is transitive (Team A meets Team B). When both opponents are the subject, it is intransitive (The two teams meet). No 'with' is used in this sense.
Common Mistakes
meet up
phrasal verbTo come together with someone by arrangement.
Let's meet up for coffee after work tomorrow.
The old friends met up at the park for a picnic.
meet with
phrasal verbTo have a meeting with someone, or to experience something such as a reaction.
The CEO will meet with investors next week.
Her proposal met with strong opposition from the board.
To encounter someone who is as good as or better than you in a particular area.
Sara thought she was the fastest runner, but she met her match in Diego.
In the debate competition, Brian finally found his match in a student from another school.
To earn just enough money to cover basic living expenses.
After losing his job, Tom struggled to make ends meet.
Maya works two jobs just to make ends meet for her family.
To look directly at someone who is also looking at you.
When the teacher called his name, Aiden refused to meet her eye.
Their eyes met across the library, and they both smiled.
To compromise with someone by giving them part of what they want.
If you lower the price a little, I can meet you halfway.
The manager decided to meet the employees halfway on the new schedule.
meet your Maker
idiomTo die.
The old dog peacefully met his Maker in his sleep.
After a long illness, Uncle Joe finally met his Maker.
Used to say that two things are so different they cannot exist together.
In their family, tradition and modernity never the twain shall meet.
Some believe that art and commerce never the twain shall meet.
A person or thing is more complex or interesting than they first appear.
Don't judge him by his silence; there is more to him than meets the eye.
The old house looked ordinary, but there was more to it than meets the eye.
The point where a theory or plan is tested in real life.
The plan looked good on paper, but where the rubber meets the road, it failed.
In business, where the rubber meets the road is customer satisfaction.
meet — noun
1. an organised event where athletes compete in sports such as running, swimming, o
an organised event where athletes compete in sports such as running, swimming, or jumping
The regional track-and-field meet attracts athletes from across the county every spring.
collocation: track-and-field meet
Amani broke two school records at the city swimming meet last Saturday.
collocation: swimming meet
Before a big meet, most runners cut back on training to save energy.
Our school's relay team won gold at the state athletics meet this year.
collocation: athletics meet
Is there a swim meet scheduled for next month at the local pool?
- swim meet
- track meet
- track-and-field meet
- athletics meet
- indoor meet
- outdoor meet
- relay meet
- invitational meet
- competition
broader term for any contest; a meet is one specific type of competition
- tournament
usually involves elimination rounds, while a meet may simply rank all participants
- event
general term; less specific than meet
Grammar Patterns
modifier + meet (swim meet, track meet)
Common Mistakes
2. a social gathering where vehicle owners and fans display their cars or motorcycl
a social gathering where vehicle owners and fans display their cars or motorcycles, exchange knowledge, and share their hobby
Rodrigo showed his restored vintage car at the weekly meet near the park.
collocation: weekly meet / vintage car
The car meet drew hundreds of visitors who admired the custom motorcycles on display.
collocation: car meet
At the monthly meet, owners swap spare parts and share repair tips with one another.
Tamás posted the date of Saturday's truck meet on a forum for local drivers.
collocation: truck meet
- car meet
- bike meet
- truck meet
- weekly meet
- monthly meet
- vintage-car meet
Grammar Patterns
modifier + meet (car meet, bike meet)
Usage Note
Commonly combined with a modifier naming the vehicle type: car meet, bike meet, truck meet, or vintage-car meet.
3. a traditional outdoor activity in which riders on horses follow a pack of dogs t
a traditional outdoor activity in which riders on horses follow a pack of dogs that chase a fox
The annual fox hunt gathered riders and hounds at dawn by the old estate.
collocation: fox hunt
Élise attended her first hunt with her uncle's horse and a pack of beagles.
Critics argue that the traditional hunt causes unnecessary suffering to wild animals.
usage in public debate: critics + argue + traditional hunt
The local hunt has been held on the same farmland since the late nineteenth century.
passive: has been held + since [date]
- fox hunt
- annual hunt
- local hunt
- hunt meet
- hunt riders
Usage Note
This sense is now controversial in countries where fox hunting is restricted or banned. It is most common in British English and refers to a tradition that has largely declined.
meet — adjective
1. right and suitable for a particular purpose or situation — used mainly in formal
right and suitable for a particular purpose or situation — used mainly in formal or literary contexts.
The elders agreed that a public apology was a meet response to the village's concerns.
meet + noun: meet response
Elena felt it was meet to send a thank-you note after the interview.
it + be + meet + to-infinitive
The librarian chose a quiet corner that seemed meet for reading the old letters.
Christopher's brief speech was meet for the solemn ceremony at the town hall.
meet + for + noun phrase
It is not meet to speak ill of the dead, the grandmother reminded her grandchildren.
formal/literary prohibition: 'it is not meet to…'
- meet punishment
- meet reward
- meet response
- meet and proper
- meet for the occasion
- fitting
most natural modern alternative, shares the formal register
- appropriate
more common and neutral in register; broader usage
- proper
emphasises correctness according to social rules
- suitable
everyday word with a wider range of contexts
- unfitting
direct opposite, also formal
- inappropriate
most common opposite across registers
- improper
implies going against social or moral rules
Grammar Patterns
it + be + meet + to-infinitive
be + meet + for + noun
meet and proper
Usage Note
Frequently used in the fixed phrase 'meet and proper' (completely appropriate). This sense is considered old-fashioned in everyday speech — a learner should recognise it in formal or religious texts but use 'appropriate' or 'fitting' in ordinary conversation.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/4
Meet (sense 4, SATISFY) and satisfy are very close in meaning but differ in common pairings. Meet is preferred with deadlines, requirements, conditions, and standards (meet a deadline, meet the criteria), while satisfy is more common with abstract desires, curiosity, or conditions phrased as proofs (satisfy a condition, satisfy curiosity). Fulfil (fulfill in American English) carries a sense of complete achievement with emotional weight -- fulfilling a promise, a dream, or a duty feels more resonant than merely meeting a requirement. Live up to is an informal phrasal verb implying a reputation or expectation set beforehand (the sequel did not live up to the original). In the COMPETE AGAINST sense (verb/9), meet is the neutral sports-journalism default, face adds a tone of challenge or danger, and play is the everyday casual choice for ball sports. For the BUMP INTO sense (verb/3), meet is neutral, encounter is more formal and also works with abstract things (encounter difficulties), and run into / bump into are informal and strongly emphasise the accidental nature.
Common collocations
Nouns
- meet a deadline
- meet a requirement
- meet a need
- meet expectations
Adverbs
- meet again
- meet briefly
- meet regularly
- meet secretly
- meet formally
Phrases
- nice to meet you
- meet and greet
- make ends meet
- meet someone halfway
- meet your match
- meet the eye
- meet the deadline
Prepositions
- meet with
- meet at
- meet in
- meet on
- meet for
Etymology
Meet comes from Old English metan, meaning "to come upon, find, encounter." It traces back to Proto-West Germanic *motijan and further to Proto-Germanic *motijanaz, from the root *motam ("meeting, encounter"). The adjective sense ("fitting, proper") entered Middle English from the Old English gemate ("suitable, corresponding"), a distinct but closely related word that later merged in spelling and pronunciation with the verb.