mentally
Americanadverb
-
in or with the mind or intellect; intellectually.
-
with regard to the mind.
Etymology
Origin of mentally
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.
Vocabulary lists containing mentally
Selection Vocabulary 4, Unit 4
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Kasich
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
Recovering impressively both physically and mentally from that shock, she showed great maturity to hold off Hodgkinson in the tense closing stages - while breaking a championship record that had stood since 1982.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
“I was already mentally preparing to fly back to El Salvador the next day,” Barton recalled.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
He did it all while playing catcher, the most physically and mentally demanding defensive position on the field and the spot where offensive production is typically viewed as an afterthought.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Within the restrictions of his suspension, Chelsea kept tabs on him physically and mentally, while several team-mates have stayed in touch and offered encouragement.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
Most overcrowded prisons don't have the capacity to provide care and treatment to the mentally ill.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
