A meaningful look or gesture is one that is intended to express something, usually to a particular person, without anything being said. Upon the utterance of this word, Dan and Harry exchanged a quick, meaningful look. + meaningfully mean·ing·ful·ly He glanced meaningfully at the other policeman, then he went up the stairs see also meaningfully
If you describe something as meaningful, you mean that it is serious, important, or useful in some way. She believes these talks will be the start of a constructive and meaningful dialogue He asked people to tell him about a meaningful event or period in their lives