English Reference
adjective

mindful

adj.
US /ˈmaɪndfəɫ/ UK /mˈaɪndfəl/ mind·ful

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    remembering to think about something or being careful not to forget it.

    maintaining awareness of a specific factor or potential consequence; often takes the preposition 'of'.

    Simple

    Please be mindful of the neighbors when you leave the party late at night.

    In context

    The committee must remain mindful of the budget constraints while selecting the final design for the new library.

    Usage

    Usually followed by the preposition 'of' and a noun phrase.

    Teacher's tip

    This is the most common everyday use, often appearing in polite requests or professional warnings.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    focusing your mind on the present moment in a calm way.

    relating to the practice of mindfulness; maintaining a non-judgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, or experiences.

    Simple

    She takes a few mindful breaths every morning to help her stay calm at work.

    In context

    Mindful meditation has been shown to reduce stress levels by encouraging practitioners to observe their thoughts without immediate reaction.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense has become very popular in the context of mental health and wellness over the last decade.


Etymology 1

From Middle English myndeful, myndefull, from Old English ġemyndful (“of good memory”), equivalent to mind + -ful.

Etymology 2

From mind + -ful.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old English ġemyndful
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated