mentally

American

[men-tl-ee] / ˈmɛn tl i /

adverb

in or with the mind or intellect; intellectually.
with regard to the mind.

Etymology

Origin of mentally

First recorded in 1655–65; mental ¹ + -ly

Explanation

Anything that happens mentally is happening in your mind. This adverb refers to brainy activity. If you’re mentally unstable, you need a shrink. Just as the adverb physically relates to the body, mentally relates to the mind. A mentally tough person is strong-willed. If someone is mentally unfit for a job, he doesn't have the brains to carry it out. A crossword puzzle can be a mentally challenging task. In the Star Wars movies, Jedi knights can mentally move objects just by willing it to happen. This word covers all the things that happen in your head.

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Vocabulary lists containing mentally

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Kasich

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After spending hours browsing online and not finding anything that meets my criteria, I become mentally exhausted and end up not ordering anything.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

So every meeting requires intense concentration, and noisy environments leave him mentally drained.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Engaging in mentally stimulating activities across your lifetime, including reading, writing, and learning new languages, may be linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and slower cognitive decline.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

His managers – generally – look at what he can do: Calm under pressure, strong in the tackle, good passing range, positional awareness, superb mentally, a leader in the dressing room.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Rembrandt’s draftsmanship is so forceful that it allows us to mentally trace the movements of the master’s hand with astonishing vividness.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023