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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
-
Stay vigilant by monitoring the sky for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
-
Inside one classroom, dozens of teenage girls sit listening to instructors explain emergency survival skills.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
What these men accomplished is worth remembering and revering even as their number dwindles.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
27 May 2026
-
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey received pushback Monday over a social media post remembering George Floyd, whose Memorial Day death six years ago triggered nationwide protests and riots, as well as calls to defund law enforcement agencies.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
The tradition of Georgia football players not obeying traffic laws is alive and well in 2026 thanks to safety Ja'Marley Riddle, who was arrested last week on speeding and felony possession charges.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
Dupree confided in Firecracker about how his church was destroyed by one of Homelander's obeying supes and asked for her help in rebuilding.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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According to the Irvine Police Department, Chen installed cameras in their family's home after noticing a change of flavor in his drink and feeling ill for weeks.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
-
After applying to more than 3,000 jobs and internships over his time in school, the 23-year-old began noticing employers were no longer asking only for traditional computer science skills.—
Lisa Chambers,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Jocytė had her first full practice with the Valkyries on Sunday, after watching from the sidelines during Golden State’s recent two-game road trip.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
-
Come for sunset, order the signature mai tai, and settle in for one of the best people-watching spots in Waikiki.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Instead of acting as intermediaries, humans focus on defining policies, supervising system behavior and handling exceptions.—
Krupesh Bhat,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
The defendant, 36, who has not been publicly identified, is accused of assaulting children while supervising them in bathrooms, during lunch breaks and in after-school care between August 2024 and April 2025.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Worth noting Right fielder Jung Hoo Lee is scheduled to begin baseball activities on Tuesday.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
-
The rest of the cast spoke glowingly of Kay as well, noting his propensity for crafting on-set environments that encourage actors to experiment.—
Kai Naima Williams,
Variety,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The shake-ups weren’t limited to the lineup, with the Cubs recalling outfielder Kevin Alcántara from Triple-A Iowa and designating infielder Nicky Lopez for assignment to make room on the active roster.—
Andy Martinez,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
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After recalling his first time at the Ed Sullivan Theater — a historic debut for the Beatles in America — McCartney discussed the band’s first impression of the country.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Minding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/minding. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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