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
So Friday’s three-team deal was just a means to an end, with the Hawks acting as a way station for the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes to swap blockbuster players Mikko Rantanen and Martin Nečas.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025
Art for the Nazis was a means to an end rather than a worthy pursuit of self-expression, with the objective being assertion of power and a rigid set of ethnocultural norms.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
Dunks simply were a means to an end — get the ball in the basket as efficiently and emphatically as possible.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025
Beyond the question raised by the exclusive nature of measuring intelligence through an economic indicator, is this metric a means to an end, or an end in itself?
—Hamilton Mann, Forbes, 2 Jan. 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.
Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025
Art for the Nazis was a means to an end rather than a worthy pursuit of self-expression, with the objective being assertion of power and a rigid set of ethnocultural norms.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
Dunks simply were a means to an end — get the ball in the basket as efficiently and emphatically as possible.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025
Beyond the question raised by the exclusive nature of measuring intelligence through an economic indicator, is this metric a means to an end, or an end in itself?
—Hamilton Mann, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for a means to an end
Dictionary Entries Near 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 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share