meaty

IPA/ˈmiːti/
KK[mˈiti]IPA/ˈmiːti/

meaty — adjective

  • meatypositive
  • meatiercomparative
  • meatiestsuperlative

1. containing plenty of meat, or having the strong savoury taste that is typical of

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

containing plenty of meat, or having the strong savoury taste that is typical of meat — used especially of soups, stews, sauces, and meat substitutes.

Example

Eli made a meaty stew with beef chunks, carrots, and potatoes for the family.

used before a noun: meaty stew

The mushroom broth tasted surprisingly meaty even though it contained no meat at all.

taste + meaty (predicative, no meat content)

Common collocations
  • meaty stew
  • meaty flavour
  • meaty texture
  • meaty sauce
  • meaty dish
  • meaty soup
  • taste meaty
  • smell meaty
Synonyms
  • fleshy

    less common for food; more often describes body parts

  • savoury

    focuses on the salty, rich taste, not the meat content

  • substantial

    can mean 'hearty and filling' rather than specifically meaty in flavour

Antonyms
  • vegetarian

    describes food without any meat at all

  • light

    describes a meal that is not heavy or meat-based

Grammar Patterns

meaty + noun

be + meaty

taste + meaty

find + noun + meaty

Usage Note

Often used in food reviews or recipes to praise a dish that is generous with meat or convincingly meat-like, especially for vegetarian products.

Common Mistakes

This steak is very meaty' (meaning 'tender and juicy').
This steak is very tender and juicy.
'meaty' refers to the amount of meat or the flavour, not the tenderness of a single cut.

2. describing a part of the body or a person's build as thick, solid, and well cove

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing a part of the body or a person's build as thick, solid, and well covered with flesh or muscle.

Example

The old fisherman had meaty hands that showed years of pulling nets from the sea.

meaty hands — body part + backstory

Lukas developed a meaty build from years of rugby and weight training at the gym.

meaty build — describing overall physique

Common collocations
  • meaty hands
  • meaty shoulders
  • meaty arms
  • meaty build
  • meaty frame
  • meaty thighs
  • meaty paws
Synonyms
  • fleshy

    more neutral; can describe both people and plant parts

  • stocky

    focuses on short, solid build rather than fleshiness

  • thick

    less specific; can describe width without implying flesh or muscle

Antonyms
  • skinny

    very thin, with little flesh

  • slender

    gracefully thin; opposite of thick and solid

Grammar Patterns

meaty + body part (hands, shoulders, arms)

be + meaty

have + a + meaty + noun

Usage Note

Can sound blunt or too direct if used carelessly to describe someone you do not know. Safer for describing parts of the body in a neutral or admiring way, or for animals and fictional characters.

Common Mistakes

She has a meaty figure' (as a direct comment).
She has a sturdy, athletic build.
'meaty' can sound rude when used as a direct physical description of a person you are not close to.

3. full of significant or thought-provoking content, so that a book, speech, discus

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

full of significant or thought-provoking content, so that a book, speech, discussion, or report leaves you with plenty to consider and reflect on.

Example

The professor's lecture on trade was meaty, covering three decades of history in one class.

meaty lecture — describing academic content

Ritu prefers meaty novels with complex characters and serious social themes over light beach reads.

meaty novels contrasted with light reads

Common collocations
  • meaty discussion
  • meaty article
  • meaty novel
  • meaty topic
  • meaty lecture
  • meaty conversation
  • meaty report
Synonyms
  • substantial

    more formal; works for both physical and abstract content

  • rich

    focuses on the quality or density of ideas rather than the quantity

  • weighty

    suggests seriousness and importance, with a more formal tone

  • thought-provoking

    emphasises the effect on the reader or listener rather than the content itself

Antonyms
  • superficial

    treating important topics without depth or seriousness

  • lightweight

    informal; lacking substance or importance

  • thin

    having little content or depth

Grammar Patterns

meaty + noun (discussion, article, book, topic)

be + meaty

find + noun + meaty

Usage Note

A compliment — implies the content is satisfyingly dense, not boring or superficial. Avoid using for purely technical or academic writing that is difficult, as 'meaty' suggests enjoyable substance, not mere complexity.

Common Mistakes

The textbook is too meaty — I cannot understand it.
The textbook is dense and hard to follow.
'meaty' is positive; use 'dense' or 'heavy' for difficult content.
We had a meaty meeting that was a waste of time.
We had a long meeting that was a waste of time.
'meaty' implies substance; you cannot use it for something empty.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/3

All four words describe something with depth or importance, but 'meaty' is the most informal and carries a vivid physical metaphor — it suggests content you can 'sink your teeth into.' 'Substantial' is the most neutral and widely applicable, describing anything with real size, value, or importance (a substantial donation, a substantial argument). 'Rich' focuses on density of detail or quality (rich data, rich texture), but can also imply abundance rather than depth. 'Weighty' conveys seriousness and often heavy responsibility (a weighty decision, a weighty document), lending a formal tone. 'Significant' emphasises measurable impact or statistical importance (a significant finding, a significant shift in policy). Use 'meaty' when you want an informal, enthusiastic way to praise a book, conversation, or article as being satisfyingly full of thought-provoking material. For example: 'We had a meaty discussion about urban planning' sounds lively and engaging, whereas 'a weighty discussion' would sound grave and formal.

substantial ↗rich ↗weighty ↗significant ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed from the noun 'meat' (which originally meant 'food' or 'solid food' in Old English) plus the suffix '-y', which turns nouns into adjectives meaning 'full of' or 'having the quality of'. The literal sense 'like or full of meat' has been in use since Old English times. The figurative meaning 'full of substance or interesting ideas' emerged in the 19th century, extending the idea of 'meaty' as something satisfying and substantial from food to the world of ideas.