meant to be
1. Intended to have a particular meaning or quality. Is this movie meant to be a comedy? I don't think it's funny at all. The violence in the brush strokes is meant to represent the oppression of the people under the tyrannical ruler.
2. Thought of, perceived, or regarded in a particular way. He's meant to be a brilliant director, though I haven't seen any of his work myself. I've heard that's it's meant to be a beautiful country to visit in the summer.
3. Destined or fated to have or attain a certain status, condition, or position. I've felt since I was a young boy that I was meant to be an actor I always thought you were meant to be a great leader of some kind.
4. Destined or fated to take place, exist, or come to pass. I'm not surprised to hear that those two are engaged—it was meant to be. I had hoped to win the election, but it just wasn't meant to be.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
meant to be something
destined or fated to be something. Jane was meant to be a chemist. I was meant to be rich, but something didn't work right!
meant to be
destined to exist. Our love was meant to be! It was not meant to be.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.