a means to an end
noun phrase
: something done only to produce a desired result
Computers have always been a means to an end for [George] Lucas: telling stories.—
David A. Kaplan
David A. KaplanExamples of a means to an end in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Big Tech CEOs’ rightward shift may have tempered Trump’s desire to crack down on them, but more likely, the White House sees antitrust enforcement as a means to an end, and has more politically valuable ends in mind than promoting competition.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Reparations are a means to an end; repair is the end.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Time travel is more a means to an end in Outlander, but there is still an expansive timeline and lots of characters moving around to keep track of.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
The End of the Affair does not present an optimistic picture of human love: Eros is a means to an end—a fatalistic step on the ladder toward agape.
—Terry Nguyen
july 23, Literary Hub, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for a means to an end
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Reparations are a means to an end; repair is the end.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Time travel is more a means to an end in Outlander, but there is still an expansive timeline and lots of characters moving around to keep track of.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
The End of the Affair does not present an optimistic picture of human love: Eros is a means to an end—a fatalistic step on the ladder toward agape.
—Terry Nguyen
july 23, Literary Hub, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for a means to an end
Cite this Entry
“A means to an end.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20means%20to%20an%20end. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share