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
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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
-
And, over the weekend, that community showed up in the simplest way possible — side by side in a gym, grinding through a workout, and remembering the ones who didn’t make it home.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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And now, the people who stood alongside him are left to carry that work forward, while remembering the man who spent his life on the front lines of it.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 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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January 20 – February 18 Your voice stands out today, and people are noticing.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Aquarius January 20 – February 18 Your voice stands out today, and people are noticing.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The depth here will be worth watching.—
Josh Kendall,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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The cheer champ was spotted watching in the stands and sporting glam (and often pointed) outfits on the sidelines as the Tar Heels played through a rocky season.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Chavez, a 78-year-old retiree who worked as a foreman supervising construction at the site, also disappeared in May 2025, according to Los Alamos police.—
Natasha Chen,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
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Goldwyn served as writer and supervising producer on Emily in Paris, and writer on SMILF and Awkwafina is Nora From Queens, among others.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Outside experts generally agreed with the government’s assessment, noting that small amounts of substances such as heavy metals are naturally occurring in the environment.—
Jonel Aleccia,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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An OpenAI spokesperson disputed that allegation, noting that the email the company sends to users who have been deactivated does not include information about creating a new account.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Blue Oval is recalling over 140,000 vehicles according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The Brewers made a series of moves prior to the game, recalling first baseman/outfielder Tyler Black and left-hander Shane Drohan from Triple-A Nashville.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Minding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/minding. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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