# mind

/ˈmaɪnd/ (US) · /mˈaɪnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mind
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. thoughts and consciousness

noun · CEFR A2

the part of a person that lets them think, feel, and imagine.

For teachers: the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, and to think and feel.

- I can't get that catchy song out of my mind today.
- The philosopher argued that the mind and the body are distinct entities, though they interact constantly throughout a person's life.

### 2. opinion or intention

noun · CEFR B1

your opinion or what you plan to do.

For teachers: an individual's opinion, view, or specific intention regarding a matter.

- Have you changed your mind about which car you want to buy?
- Once the director has made up her mind, it is notoriously difficult to persuade her to consider an alternative strategy.

### 3. an intelligent person

noun · CEFR B2

a person who is very clever or has a specific way of thinking.

For teachers: a person viewed in relation to their intellectual powers.

- She is one of the greatest scientific minds of our time.
- The conference brought together the most brilliant minds in the field of artificial intelligence to discuss ethical safeguards.

### 4. to be bothered by

verb · CEFR A2

to feel annoyed or worried by something.

For teachers: to feel objection, annoyance, or discomfort regarding something; typically used in negative or interrogative sentences.

- Do you mind if I open the window for some fresh air?
- Most residents did not mind the noise of the construction during the day, provided the site remained quiet after six o'clock.

Usage: usually takes a gerund (-ing) or a noun phrase as an object

### 5. to be careful

verb · CEFR A2

to be careful about something or pay attention to a danger.

For teachers: to be careful of or pay attention to something; often used as a warning.

- Please mind the step as you walk into the garden.
- The sign warned passengers to mind the gap between the train and the platform edge to avoid injury.

### 6. to look after

verb · CEFR B1 · British English

to take care of someone or something for a short time.

For teachers: to take charge of or look after someone or something temporarily.

- Could you mind my bags for a moment while I buy a ticket?
- She earned extra money during the summer by minding her neighbour's children while their parents were at work.

### 7. to remember

verb · CEFR C2 · Dialect · Archaic

to remember something or bring it back to your memory.

For teachers: to recall to one's memory; to remember.

- Do you mind the time we went to that little café in the woods?
- The old man could still mind the days before the village had electricity, describing the oil lamps with vivid detail.

Teaching tip: This sense is mostly found in Scottish or Northern English dialects; modern speakers usually use 'remember'.

## Examples

- I have a lot on my mind today.
- Reading books is a great way to keep your mind active and learn new things.
- The relationship between the human mind and the physical brain remains one of the most significant questions in both modern neuroscience and classical philosophy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.