1
as in listening
to pay attention especially through the act of hearing
you'll be in big trouble if you don't straighten up and mind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in remembering
chiefly dialect
to bring back to mind
I seem to mind such a tale from way back
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obeying
to act according to the commands of
tell the children to mind the babysitter
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in noticing
to be cautious of or on guard against
mind the slippery steps
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in watching
to have an interest or concern for
don't mind him; he's always complaining
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in supervising
to take charge of especially on behalf of another
the salesperson will mind the store while the manager goes out to lunch
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in noting
to take notice of and be guided by
mind the instructions that appear at the top of the first page of the exam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of minding
The other kids must have found its inhabitants repulsive or boring, but I was drawn to a cobra that was lying flat out and minding its own business.
—
John McPhee, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Fifty years ago, Rick Monday was minding his own business, tending to center field for the Chicago Cubs in a game at Dodger Stadium.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Moton was sitting on his phone, minding his own business, when Norman suddenly yawned and swatted her hand in his direction.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
Darwin is an octopus who’s minding his own business when he’s suddenly ripped out of the ocean and thrown into a junkyard.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
After all, Kay had spent her girlhood minding a growing brood of siblings in a series of small Chinatown apartments with a father whose income could not always sustain a family in much comfort.
—Charlotte Brooks, Big Think, 13 Mar. 2026
One person refuses to bow — not an army, not a revolution, one stubborn Jew minding his own business — and Haman cannot function.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
Don Lemon – Just earlier this month, the good brother Don was minding his Black business covering an ICE protest when Nicki’s idle fingers started insulting the broadcast journalist on social media.
—Bridgette Bartlett Royall, Essence, 30 Jan. 2026
Especially Gina, who honestly was just minding her business, hanging out with her boyfriend’s daughter, and winds up getting accused of incompetence by her own boyfriend.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 Jan. 2026
John McPhee, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Fifty years ago, Rick Monday was minding his own business, tending to center field for the Chicago Cubs in a game at Dodger Stadium.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Moton was sitting on his phone, minding his own business, when Norman suddenly yawned and swatted her hand in his direction.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
Darwin is an octopus who’s minding his own business when he’s suddenly ripped out of the ocean and thrown into a junkyard.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
After all, Kay had spent her girlhood minding a growing brood of siblings in a series of small Chinatown apartments with a father whose income could not always sustain a family in much comfort.
—Charlotte Brooks, Big Think, 13 Mar. 2026
One person refuses to bow — not an army, not a revolution, one stubborn Jew minding his own business — and Haman cannot function.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
Don Lemon – Just earlier this month, the good brother Don was minding his Black business covering an ICE protest when Nicki’s idle fingers started insulting the broadcast journalist on social media.
—Bridgette Bartlett Royall, Essence, 30 Jan. 2026
Especially Gina, who honestly was just minding her business, hanging out with her boyfriend’s daughter, and winds up getting accused of incompetence by her own boyfriend.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for minding
Verb
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Recorded on five reel-to-reel decks, the composer’s 1975 piece blends everyday and exotic sounds—human breath, cheeping frogs, bubbling geysers—into a passionate defense of the raptures of listening.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In June 2009, director Patti Ragan told PEOPLE that Bubbles' favorite activities included eating sweet potatoes, listening to flute-and-guitar music and painting.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Haines is lost in hindsight, sometimes singing about what ifs and remembering her hell-raising era, sometimes wanting to abandon it all for a fresh start.—
Ethan Beck,
Pitchfork,
4 May 2026
-
Or remembering something Ben said.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Footage from the scene shows the group obeying police instructions when a plain clothes officer grabbed Salman’s hand, twisting it and causing a fracture in her wrist.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
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So long as Lil Nas X complies with the treatment plan determined after his bipolar disorder diagnosis, as well as obeying all laws for the next two years, the case will be dismissed.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And without really noticing it, the urgency that once existed at the beginning of your search quietly fades away.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
2 May 2026
-
After noticing that one of the items purchased was the entire Lip Critic discography on Bandcamp, Kaser was later confronted by the fan at one of their shows, who claimed to have decoded hidden messages in their music.—
Alastair Shuttleworth,
Pitchfork,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Then, a few years ago, everyone seemingly started watching women’s sports, and more mainstream exposure followed, as well as more critical coverage.—
Candace Buckner,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
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In 2021, Caulfield opened up to PEOPLE about having a hard time watching Pfeiffer's star rise while his stalled a bit after Grease 2's release.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Late in her career, Dale even wound up supervising hospice workers.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
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At a Senate confirmation hearing for his new post, senators also questioned him about a role supervising the Weaponization Working Group, a task force established by former Attorney General Pam Bondi to root out alleged instances of political bias in the department under President Joe Biden.—
Andrew Graham
April 30,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But, in a note following the publication of Novo's earnings update, equity analysts at Jefferies said Novo's change in guidance was unlikely to have a positive impact on consensus forecasts — noting market expectations could even contract in response.—
Elsa Ohlen,Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
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Kelleher also brushed aside concerns of an erosion of pricing in the contract logistics market based on Amazon’s service expansion, noting that GXO’s churn rate is less than 5 percent.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
6 May 2026
Verb
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One video has drawn thousands of comments, with people recalling childhood trips to the DVD section and browsing such clothing brands as Mossimo.—
Star Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
HiPP responded by recalling all of its baby food jars sold at SPAR supermarkets — which include SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR and Maximarkt stores — in Austria as a precaution.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Minding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/minding. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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