- Do you “meet with” expectations, or do you simply “meet” them?
- Is it correct to “meet a deadline” or “make a deadline”?
- What’s the difference between “meeting someone for the first time” and “meeting up with a friend”?
Mastering collocations, those natural pairings of words that native speakers instinctively use, is a cornerstone of achieving true fluency in English. Instead of translating word-for-word, understanding collocations like those with “meet” helps you sound natural, convey your message clearly, and reduce the common anxiety associated with speaking a new language. Let’s dive deep into how to use “meet” like a native speaker.
Common Collocations with MEET as a Verb
Social and Personal Encounters
When “meet” refers to encountering people, either by chance or by arrangement.
- meet someone for the first time: To be introduced to someone, or to encounter them initially.
- Example: “I’m always nervous when I meet someone for the first time, especially in a professional setting.”
- meet up (with someone): To come together with someone, usually by arrangement, for a social activity.
- Example: “Let’s meet up with John for coffee tomorrow afternoon.”
- meet and greet: An event where a public figure or performer meets and interacts with fans or the public.
- Example: “The author held a successful meet and greet session at the bookstore.”
- meet friends/colleagues: To see or encounter friends or colleagues, often by arrangement.
- Example: “After work, I usually meet friends at the gym or for a quick drink.”
- meet the family: To be introduced to or spend time with someone’s relatives.
- Example: “It’s a big step when you finally meet the family of your partner.”
Fulfilling Requirements and Expectations
In this context, “meet” means to satisfy, achieve, or conform to something.
- meet expectations: To be as good as or what someone expected.
- Example: “The new product launch successfully met all expectations for sales.”
- meet a deadline: To complete something by the required time.
- Example: “It was challenging, but we managed to meet the deadline for the project submission.”
- meet targets/goals: To achieve specific objectives or aims.
- Example: “Our sales team is working hard to meet their quarterly targets.”
- meet criteria/requirements/standards: To fulfill specific conditions, demands, or quality levels.
- Example: “All applicants must meet the essential criteria listed in the job description.”
- meet a need: To provide what is necessary or desired.
- Example: “This innovative solution aims to meet the growing need for renewable energy.”
- meet specifications: To conform to detailed requirements or characteristics.
- Example: “The engineered component perfectly met the rigorous specifications.”
Encountering Challenges and Consequences
Here, “meet” means to face, experience, or confront something, often negative.
- meet a challenge: To face and try to overcome a difficult situation.
- Example: “The team is ready to meet the challenge of expanding into new markets.”
- meet with resistance: To encounter opposition or disagreement.
- Example: “Their proposal for new policy changes met with considerable resistance from staff.”
- meet one’s fate/end: To experience an unpleasant event that is destined to happen, often death.
- Example: “The ancient hero knew he would eventually meet his fate on the battlefield.”
- meet an obstacle: To encounter something that blocks progress.
- Example: “During the expedition, they unexpectedly met an obstacle in the form of a swollen river.”
- meet one’s match: To encounter someone who is equally skilled or powerful, or better.
- Example: “The champion wrestler finally met his match in the young challenger.”
Formal Gatherings and Discussions
Using “meet” in the context of formal or official assemblies.
- meet to discuss: To convene for the purpose of talking about a specific topic.
- Example: “The board will meet to discuss the quarterly financial results next week.”
- meet in person: To physically come together, as opposed to communicating remotely.
- Example: “It’s much easier to resolve complex issues when you can meet in person.”
Essential Collocations using MEET as a Noun
While less common than its verb form, “meet” also functions as a noun, typically referring to an organized event or gathering where people compete or come together for a specific purpose.
Types of Meets (Events)
- a track meet: An organized event for track and field athletics.
- Example: “Our school is hosting a track meet next month, and many local schools will participate.”
- a swim meet: An organized competition in swimming.
- Example: “She trained hard all season for the championship swim meet.”
- a wrestling meet: A competition in wrestling.
- Example: “The crowd cheered loudly during the final match of the wrestling meet.”
- a horse meet (less common in daily speech, more specific to racing): A gathering for horse racing.
- Example: “They spent a day at the races, enjoying the excitement of the horse meet.”
Actions Related to Meets
- attend a meet: To be present at an organized sporting or social event.
- Example: “Many fans travelled long distances to attend the regional track meet.”
- host a meet: To organize and provide facilities for an organized event.
- Example: “Our club decided to host a meet for vintage car enthusiasts this year.”
Master Summary Table: Key MEET Collocations
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| meet someone for the first time | Verb Phrase | Encounter someone initially |
| meet up (with someone) | Phrasal Verb | Gather socially by arrangement |
| meet expectations | Verb Phrase | Satisfy anticipated standards |
| meet a deadline | Verb Phrase | Complete by the due date |
| meet targets/goals | Verb Phrase | Achieve objectives |
| meet a need | Verb Phrase | Provide what is required |
| meet a challenge | Verb Phrase | Face a difficult situation |
| meet with resistance | Verb Phrase | Encounter opposition |
| meet one’s match | Verb Phrase | Encounter an equally skilled opponent |
| a track meet | Noun Phrase | An athletics competition |
| attend a meet | Verb + Noun | Be present at an event |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Here are some typical errors learners make, and how native speakers would naturally express the same ideas.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| I will meet to my friend at the café. | I will meet my friend at the café. (or meet up with my friend) |
| The company couldn’t meet with the needs of customers. | The company couldn’t meet the needs of customers. |
| We need to meet a problem. | We need to meet a challenge. (or face/encounter a problem) |
| I must meet an appointment. | I must keep an appointment. (You meet a person, not an appointment.) |
| He always tries to meet high expectations. | He always tries to meet high expectations. (No “the” is generally more natural here.) |
| Let’s make a meet for swimming. | Let’s attend a swim meet. (or go to a swim meet) |
Subject: Project Update Meeting
Hi Team,
I hope this email finds you well. I’m writing to confirm our project update meeting for next Tuesday. We need to meet in person to discuss the Q3 results thoroughly. As you know, we are striving to meet ambitious targets this quarter, and initial reports suggest we’re on track. However, we’ve recently met with some resistance from a key supplier, which we’ll need to address. It’s crucial that we meet the deadline for the next phase, so please come prepared to meet any challenge that arises. Looking forward to seeing you all and ensuring we continue to meet customer needs effectively.
Best regards,
Sarah Chen
Frequently Asked Questions about Meet Collocations
Is it “meet someone” or “meet with someone”? What’s the difference?
Both are correct, but the nuance is important. “Meet someone” is general and can refer to a first encounter (“I met him yesterday”) or a planned social/business meeting (“I’m meeting my boss at 10 AM”). “Meet with someone” often implies a more formal or purposeful meeting, especially in a business or official context, where there’s usually an agenda or specific topic for discussion (“The committee will meet with stakeholders next week”). For casual social gatherings, “meet up with” is also very common (“Let’s meet up with friends tonight”).
Can ‘meet’ be used for inanimate objects, like “meet a wall”?
Yes, “meet” can be used for inanimate objects, but typically in the sense of coming into physical contact or encountering something. For example, “The two roads meet at the intersection” or “The boat met a strong current.” However, it’s less common to say “meet a wall” if you mean “hit a wall”; in that case, “hit” or “collide with” would be more natural. “Meet an obstacle” is a good example of encountering a non-person difficulty.
What does it mean to “meet your match”?
To meet your match means to encounter someone who is equally skilled, powerful, or talented as you, or perhaps even superior, usually in a competitive situation. It implies that you’ve finally found a worthy opponent or someone who can challenge you effectively. For instance, “The undefeated boxer finally met his match in the young challenger, suffering his first loss.”
What prepositions commonly follow ‘meet’ in various contexts?
The most common prepositions that follow ‘meet’ include:
- with: Often used for formal meetings or encountering resistance/challenges (e.g., “meet with resistance,” “meet with colleagues to discuss”).
- for: Used to specify the purpose of a meeting (e.g., “meet for coffee,” “meet for a discussion”).
- at: Used to specify a location (e.g., “meet at the station,” “meet at 7 PM”).
- in: Also for location (e.g., “meet in the park,” “meet in person”).
- up with: As part of the phrasal verb “meet up,” implying a casual social gathering (e.g., “meet up with friends”).
However, many common collocations like “meet expectations” or “meet a deadline” are transitive and require no preposition at all.
This entire article is a gem. I often hear native speakers say things that just sound 'right' and I can't quite place why. This explains it perfectly. Collocations are really the secret sauce for fluency.
Thank you for such a wonderful compliment, Diego! You've captured the essence of why we focus on collocations – they truly are the 'secret sauce.' We're delighted to help you uncover the magic behind sounding authentically native!
One question: is 'meet with' ever correct for people, like 'I met with my lawyer yesterday'? Or should it always be 'I met my lawyer'?
That's a very insightful question, Isabella! Yes, 'meet with' *can* be used for people, especially in more formal or professional contexts, implying a planned discussion or consultation. So, 'I met with my lawyer yesterday' is perfectly correct and often implies a scheduled appointment with a specific purpose. 'I met my lawyer' is also correct, but could refer to either a formal meeting or a chance encounter (e.g., 'I met my lawyer at the grocery store'). The 'with' adds a nuance of a structured engagement.
I appreciate the detailed examples. Sometimes a short definition isn't enough, but seeing the sentences helps internalize the usage. Will look forward to more!
We're glad the detailed examples hit the mark, Wei! Contextual learning is incredibly effective for collocations. We'll continue to provide clear examples in all our articles. Thanks for your feedback!
This really highlights the difference between learning individual words and learning how words *work together*. It's a game-changer for my speaking confidence!
That's a fantastic way to put it, Chloe! You've perfectly articulated the core message of our collocation articles. Understanding how words combine naturally is indeed a game-changer for confidence and fluency. We're so happy to contribute to your learning journey!
Grazie! This article is very clear. In Italian, we often use 'incontrare' for many of these, but English needs more specific verbs or prepositions. Very helpful explanation!
Prego, Paolo! Your comparison to Italian is a great illustration of why collocations are so vital in English. It's often not about finding a direct translation, but understanding how native speakers naturally combine words. Keep up the great work!
I sometimes get confused with 'meet a challenge' or 'meet a demand.' Are these also collocations with 'meet' that refer to fulfilling something, similar to 'meet expectations'?
Absolutely, Aisha! You're spot on. 'Meet a challenge,' 'meet a demand,' 'meet requirements,' or 'meet standards' all fall into a similar category where 'meet' means to fulfill, satisfy, or adequately respond to something. This is a very important sense of the verb 'meet' that extends beyond social interactions. Your understanding is excellent!
What about 'meeting of minds'? Is that also a collocation with 'meet'? It feels slightly different to the social encounters you mentioned.
You've hit on another excellent collocation, Liam! 'Meeting of minds' is indeed a very common idiom, meaning a situation where two or more people agree on something or understand each other perfectly. While it doesn't fit neatly into the 'social encounters' category, it absolutely uses 'meet' in an abstract sense, referring to ideas or thoughts coming together. Great example!
This article is a lifesaver! I'm preparing for my IELTS speaking exam, and I know using natural collocations is crucial for a higher score. I will definitely review this again.
That's wonderful to hear, Anya! You're absolutely right; natural collocations significantly boost your fluency and lexical resource score in exams like IELTS. Good luck with your preparation, and we're here to support you!
Is there a difference between 'meet up' (two words) and 'meetup' (one word)? I see both sometimes, especially online.
That's an excellent question, Kenji, and one that trips up many! 'Meet up' (two words) is the phrasal verb, meaning to gather by arrangement (e.g., 'Let's meet up later'). 'Meetup' (one word) is a noun, often referring to an organized social gathering or the name of a specific platform (e.g., 'We attended a language exchange meetup'). So, 'meet up' is the action, 'meetup' is the event or group!
Thank you so much for this! I'm an advanced learner, but collocations are still my weak spot. The examples are perfectly chosen.
We're so glad to hear that, Maria! Collocations challenge even advanced learners, which is why articles like this are so important. Keep focusing on these natural pairings, and your fluency will continue to soar!