meet
/miːt/ (bre, ipa) · /miːt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmēt/ (ame, mw)
meet — verb
- meetpresent simple I / you / we / they
- meetshe / she / it
- metpast simple
- meeting-ing form
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.
- 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.
文法句型
meet + person (for the first time)
用法筆記
This sense is often used in polite introductions. A common fixed phrase is 'Nice to meet you.'
常見錯誤
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.
Our sales team meets every Monday morning to review the weekly goals.
- 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.
文法句型
meet + someone (by arrangement)
meet + for + purpose
meet + to + infinitive
用法筆記
Common with time/place adverbials. Can be used transitively ('meet a client') or intransitively ('let's meet at noon').
常見錯誤
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!
文法句型
meet + person + by chance
meet + person + at/in/on + place
用法筆記
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.
The school must meet certain government standards to keep its funding.
- 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.
文法句型
meet + requirement/need/standard/deadline
用法筆記
Frequently used with abstract nouns as the object: needs, requirements, conditions, standards, expectations, deadlines. The object is rarely a person.
常見錯誤
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.
文法句型
meet + costs/expenses/debts/bills
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
Sayaka's host family met her at the airport with a large welcome sign.
文法句型
meet + someone + at + place
用法筆記
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.
Where the dry desert meets the blue ocean, the view is unforgettable.
The railway tracks meet at a station just outside the capital.
文法句型
two things meet
something meets something
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
文法句型
meet with + reaction/response
meet + something (direct object)
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
文法句型
two opponents meet
somebody meets somebody in [competition]
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
meet — noun
- meetsingular
- meetsplural
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.
Is there a swim meet scheduled for next month at the local pool?
- 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
文法句型
modifier + meet (swim meet, track meet)
常見錯誤
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.
文法句型
modifier + meet (car meet, bike meet)
用法筆記
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.
The local hunt has been held on the same farmland since the late nineteenth century.
用法筆記
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
- meetpositive
- meetercomparative
- meetestsuperlative
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.
It is not meet to speak ill of the dead, the grandmother reminded her grandchildren.
- 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
文法句型
it + be + meet + to-infinitive
be + meet + for + noun
meet and proper
用法筆記
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.