mind

1 of 2

noun

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
3
: intention, desire
I changed my mind.
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
5
: opinion, view
was urged to speak his 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 mindAlfred Tennyson
8
capitalized Christian Science : god sense 1b
9
: a conscious substratum or factor in the universe
10
: attention
pay him no mind

mind

2 of 2

verb

minded; minding; minds

transitive verb

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 itDennis Whitcomb
b
chiefly dialectal : intend, purpose
5
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

intransitive verb

1
: to be attentive or wary
2
: to become concerned : care
3
: to pay obedient heed or attention
minder noun

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 Web
Noun
And there may be another concern on the minds of executives: A possible change in policy depending on who wins U.S. elections in November. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 14 Mar. 2024 After German Nazi forces invaded France in 1940, Jaffé changed her mind and revised her will. Nina Siegal, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Not a dealbreaker, but something to keep in mind if your child frequently plays Osmo or other iPad games that require the tablet to be out of the case. Tanya Edwards, Parents, 13 Mar. 2024 Still, indoor plants do help somewhat, and sites like HGTV, Good Housekeeping and Air Health have many suggestions on the best for air quality, including: Spider plant Aloe vera English ivy Bamboo palm Snake plant Peace lily Keep in mind some of these plants can be toxic to pets. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2024 Keep in mind that pop-in shops for forgotten items can be exempt from this practice. Karla Walsh, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 There’s also a lovely sense of intergenerational generosity, as two sharp scientific minds pool their knowledge, and ultimately, as Zoya instills confidence in Paula to continue her work. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 The resort also has fat tire bikes that can plow through powder, and Winter Park Ski Resort is just 10 miles from the ranch if doing laps on the slopes is on your mind. Brittany Anas, The Denver Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Though great minds like British philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft campaigned for women’s scholarship, public opinion was generally against rearing daughters for work outside of the service industry, or even encouraging open-minded thought. E.r. Zarevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024
Verb
Floral flavors may call to mind molecular gastronomy and dainty delicacies, but flowers have for centuries been part of cuisines around the world. Alice Cavanagh, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Since 1919, this fixture on leafy Margaret Island, a pedestrian-only Danube River hideaway straddling Buda and Pest, has held a series of boisterous, family-friendly pools that call to mind a water park bolstered by ample shady perches to unwind in between splash sessions. Alia Akkam, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2024 Spring nail colors usually call to mind pastels like lilac, baby pink, and light yellow. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 13 Mar. 2024 Edward Segarra Robert Downey Jr. and Emma Stone are being accused of not minding their manners on Oscar night. USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 The retailer owes its sales success to revamping its inventory to appeal to younger shoppers, as well as customers who don’t mind inflation-induced higher prices. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024 Patrons don’t seem to mind whether their next drink comes from a shaker or a spout. Kate Bernot, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 The opening tableau, sculptural in composition, brings to mind the war-scarred art of Käthe Kollwitz. Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Entering the hotel, guests immediately noticed black and white patterns, from the chess flooring to the striped optical illusions of spiral vortexes, all of which called to mind the intro of the late 1950s/early 1960s television show The Twilight Zone. Allyson Portee, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 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

Dictionary Entries Near mind

Cite this Entry

“Mind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mind. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mind

1 of 2 noun
1
: 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 verb
1
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

noun
1
: 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

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