Meet with sb Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Meet with sb” Mean?

“Meet with sb” means to have a planned or formal meeting or appointment with someone. It usually implies a purposeful gathering, often for discussion or work.

Introduction

The phrase “Meet with sb” is commonly used in English to describe the act of coming together with someone, usually for a specific reason such as a business meeting, appointment, or discussion. The “sb” stands for “somebody,” indicating a person you meet. Understanding the “Meet with sb meaning” helps learners recognize that this phrasal verb often implies a formal or intentional meeting rather than a casual encounter. It is widely used in both spoken and written English, especially in professional contexts. Knowing how to use this phrase correctly can improve your communication skills and help you sound more natural in everyday conversations and formal situations.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Meet with somebody
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To have a planned meeting or appointment with someone

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Meet with sb” is a transitive phrasal verb and is inseparable. This means you cannot separate “meet” and “with” by adding an object in between.

• Correct: I will meet with the manager tomorrow.
• Incorrect: I will meet the manager with tomorrow.

Pattern:

• Subject + meet + with + somebody

How to Use “Meet with sb”?

Use “meet with sb” when you want to talk about a scheduled or formal meeting. It is often used in professional or official contexts but can also apply to personal meetings. The phrase emphasizes the purposefulness of the meeting.

For example, you might “meet with a client,” “meet with a teacher,” or “meet with a team.” It highlights that the meeting is planned and has an agenda.

Examples

Here are some natural sentences using “meet with sb in a sentence” to show how it works:

• I will meet with my supervisor to discuss the project.
• She met with the doctor to review her test results.
• We need to meet with the marketing team before the launch.
• They met with the clients to finalize the contract.
• The manager met with the staff to explain the new policy.

Common Mistakes

Sometimes learners confuse “meet with sb” with just “meet sb.” The difference is subtle but important. “Meet sb” is more general and can mean meeting someone for the first time or casually. “Meet with sb” usually means a planned or formal meeting.

• Incorrect: I will meet with John at the party. (If it is a casual encounter)
• Correct: I will meet John at the party.
• Incorrect: She meets with her friends every weekend. (If it is informal)
• Correct: She meets her friends every weekend.

Differences / Synonyms

It is important to understand how “meet with sb” differs from similar phrases like “meet sb” or “get together with sb.”

• Meet sb: Can mean any meeting, formal or informal, including first-time meetings.
• Meet with sb: Usually a formal or planned meeting.
• Get together with sb: Informal meeting, usually social.

For example, you “meet with your boss” for work, but you “get together with friends” for fun.

Common Collocations

Here are some common objects used with “meet with” and their meanings:

• Meet with clients: To have a business appointment.
• Meet with colleagues: To discuss work with coworkers.
• Meet with managers: To talk about company matters.
• Meet with teachers: To discuss academic progress.
• Meet with officials: To discuss formal or governmental issues.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of meet with sb:

• Meet Sth With Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “meet with sb”:

Anna: Have you met with the project team yet?

Ben: Yes, we met with them yesterday to review the deadlines.

Anna: Great! Did they agree with the schedule?

Ben: They did. We will meet with the client next week to present it.

Practice

Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “meet with”:

• I will _______ the director tomorrow to discuss the proposal.
• They _______ with the suppliers last week.
• She prefers to _______ her mentor once a month.
• We need to _______ with the team before the meeting.

FAQs

• Q: Is “meet with sb” formal or informal?
  A: It is usually formal or planned.
• Q: Can I use “meet with sb” for casual meetings?
  A: It is better for formal meetings; use “meet sb” for casual ones.
• Q: Is “meet with” separable?
  A: No, you cannot separate “meet” and “with.”
• Q: What is the difference between “meet sb” and “meet with sb”?
  A: “Meet sb” can be casual or formal; “meet with sb” is more formal and planned.
• Q: Can “meet with sb” be used in past tense?
  A: Yes, e.g., “I met with the client yesterday.”