plural minds
1
: recollection, memory
keep that in mind
time out of mind
2
a
: the element or complex (see complex entry 1 sense 1) of elements in an individual that feels, perceives, thinks, wills, and especially reasons
Keep your mind active as you grow older.
b
: the conscious mental events and capabilities in an organism
c
: the organized conscious and unconscious adaptive mental activity of an organism
4
: the normal or healthy condition of the mental faculties
Who in their right mind would try such a stunt?
see also out of one's mind
6
: disposition, mood
He's in a bad state of mind.
7
a
: a person or group embodying mental qualities
the public mind
b
: intellectual ability
the works of men of mind—
Alfred Tennyson
Alfred Tennyson8
9
: a conscious substratum or factor in the universe
10
: attention
pay him no mind
minded; minding; minds
1
chiefly dialectal
: remind
2
chiefly dialectal
: remember
3
: to attend to closely
4
a(1)
: to become aware of : notice
(2)
: to regard with attention : consider important
—often used in the imperative with following you for emphasis
I'm not against inspiration, mind you; I simply refuse to sit and stare at a blank page waiting for it—Dennis Whitcomb
Dennis Whitcomb5
a
: to give heed to attentively in order to obey
b
: to follow the orders or instructions of
6
a
: to be concerned about
b
: dislike
I don't mind going
7
a
: to be careful : see
mind you finish it
b
: to be cautious about
mind the broken rung
8
: to give protective care to : tend
minder
noun
Synonyms
Examples of mind in a Sentence
Noun
He read great literature to develop his mind.
It's important to keep your mind active as you grow older.
He went for a walk to help clear his mind.
the mysteries of the human mind
My mind is always open to new ideas.
You can't argue with him. His mind is closed.
I can't concentrate: my mind is always wandering and I can't keep it focused on anything.
The smell of pine sends my mind back to childhood.
The sound of her voice jerked my mind back to the present.
My mind tells me it can't work, but my heart tells me I want to try it.
Verb
It was raining, but I didn't mind.
I don't mind very much what happens.
“Why is he so angry?” “Oh, don't mind him. He's always complaining about something.”
Recent Examples on the WebBianna Golodryga, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Foremost in our minds is the shockingly high number of Palestinian journalists who have been killed to get those stories out.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Hormones regulate a person’s mind and body, and going cold turkey could send patients into depressive spirals or worse.
—Casey Parks, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
This libido supplement contains natural herbs like maca, ashwagandha, and vitamin E along with vitamin B6 to promote overall health of the mind and body.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2024
Gary Evans, director of the Forest Bathing Institute in the U.K., explains how to connect your body and mind to nature.
—Life Kit, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
In her mind, law seems more secure than filmmaking.
—Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
The winning formula lies in connecting one-of-a-kind minds and disrupting the status quo in a market flooded with mediocrity.
—Kyle Russell, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
Commissioners who have been hesitant to radically change the theater in the past have since changed their minds.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
Obstetrics may not spring to mind when people think about military medicine, but troops get to have families.
—Quil Lawrence, NPR, 3 Apr. 2024
The woman did not look at him, following the standard code of safe travels on public transit — mind your own business and avoid confrontation.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Its shape, stance, and aerodynamics all call to mind a softer and less defined Porsche Taycan, with smatterings of other EVs, including the Tesla Model 3, scattered throughout the design.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
Its beautiful beaches and network of navigable waterways, known as The Broads, might be the first things to come to mind for some when visualizing England’s Norfolk County.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024
Kernel’s human workers don’t seem to mind the robot stealing the spotlight.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024
All that was missing was a sea breeze, but no one seemed to mind.
—Shauna Lyon, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024
And lately, the group has been building on that foundation by experimenting in the studio, merging their signature style with muted drums, synths, and even steel guitars that bring George Strait to mind.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2024
Noun
But Maya said her mind was always with those still held.
—Bianna Golodryga, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Foremost in our minds is the shockingly high number of Palestinian journalists who have been killed to get those stories out.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Hormones regulate a person’s mind and body, and going cold turkey could send patients into depressive spirals or worse.
—Casey Parks, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
This libido supplement contains natural herbs like maca, ashwagandha, and vitamin E along with vitamin B6 to promote overall health of the mind and body.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2024
Gary Evans, director of the Forest Bathing Institute in the U.K., explains how to connect your body and mind to nature.
—Life Kit, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
In her mind, law seems more secure than filmmaking.
—Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
The winning formula lies in connecting one-of-a-kind minds and disrupting the status quo in a market flooded with mediocrity.
—Kyle Russell, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
Commissioners who have been hesitant to radically change the theater in the past have since changed their minds.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
The rule of the day seems to be to mind your P’s and Q’s.
—Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
Obstetrics may not spring to mind when people think about military medicine, but troops get to have families.
—Quil Lawrence, NPR, 3 Apr. 2024
The woman did not look at him, following the standard code of safe travels on public transit — mind your own business and avoid confrontation.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Its shape, stance, and aerodynamics all call to mind a softer and less defined Porsche Taycan, with smatterings of other EVs, including the Tesla Model 3, scattered throughout the design.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
Its beautiful beaches and network of navigable waterways, known as The Broads, might be the first things to come to mind for some when visualizing England’s Norfolk County.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024
Kernel’s human workers don’t seem to mind the robot stealing the spotlight.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024
All that was missing was a sea breeze, but no one seemed to mind.
—Shauna Lyon, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024
And lately, the group has been building on that foundation by experimenting in the studio, merging their signature style with muted drums, synths, and even steel guitars that bring George Strait to mind.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mind.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Old English gemynd; akin to Old High German gimunt memory, Latin ment-, mens mind, monēre to remind, warn, Greek menos passion, resolve, mnasthai, mimnēskesthai to remember
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of mind was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing mind
Articles Related to mind
Dictionary Entries Near mind
Cite this Entry
“Mind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mind. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
mind
1 of 2 noun1
: the state of remembering or of being remembered : memory, recollection
call to mind
2
: the part of a person that feels, perceives, thinks, wills, and especially reasons
3
: intention sense 1, desire
changed my mind
4
: the normal or healthy condition of the mental abilities
lose one's mind
5
: one's view or opinion about something : view
speak your mind
mind
2 of 2 verb1
chiefly dialect
: remember sense 1
2
: to pay attention to : heed
mind what you're doing
mind your own business
3
: obey sense 1a
mind one's parents
4
: to be bothered by
never mind your mistake
minds the cold
5
: to be careful about : watch out for
mind the broken glass
6
: to take charge of
minding the children
Medical Definition
mind
noun1
: the element or complex of elements in an individual that feels, perceives, thinks, wills, and especially reasons
2
: the conscious mental events and capabilities in an organism
3
: the organized conscious and unconscious adaptive mental activity of an organism
More from Merriam-Webster on mind
Nglish: Translation of mind for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of mind for Arabic Speakers
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