mentally

adverb

men·​tal·​ly ˈmen-tᵊl-ē 

1

: in the mind

Mentally he promised himself that he would never again use a collar on any living creature.

—Brian Jacques

: using the mind

able to mentally calculate large sums

2

: with regard to the mind or its capacity

physically and mentally healthy people

a mentally competent adult

a mentally challenging activity

… if you try to hide the fact that you feel mentally inadequate, and so go around making jokes about your own dullness and acting as if it didn't bother you at all …

—David Foster Wallace

I felt too hungry and tired and mentally overloaded to ask any more questions.

—Rick Riordan

Examples of mentally in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Should be a fascinating match - to see how two players who previously had no Plan B have developed into all-court, mentally tough players. —Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025

In many instances, these dogs are kept in conditions that are damaging to them both physically and mentally. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025

The newest forever prisoner is one of the original 9/11 defendants, Ramzi bin al-Shibh; in September 2023, he was declared mentally incompetent to stand trial. —Lisa Hajjar, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2025

By mentally simulating possibilities, couples can uncover new insights and perspectives that might otherwise remain hidden. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mentally

• mentally retarded