mention
Americanverb (used with object)
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mentions,
present (3rd person singular)
-
mentioned,
past participle, past
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mentioning
present participle
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to refer briefly to; name, specify, or speak of.
Don't forget to mention her contribution to the project.
- Synonyms:
- indicate
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to cite formally for a meritorious act or achievement.
He was mentioned in dispatches from the war zone.
noun
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mentions
plural
idioms
verb
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to refer to or speak about briefly or incidentally
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to acknowledge or honour
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to say nothing of something too obvious to mention
noun
-
a recognition or acknowledgment
-
a slight reference or allusion
he only got a mention in the article
the author makes no mention of that
-
the act of mentioning
-
philosophy logic linguistics the occurrence (of an expression) in such a context that it is itself referred to rather than performing its own linguistic function. In " Fido " names Fido, the word Fido is first mentioned and then used to refer to the dog Compare use See also formal mode
-
a preliminary hearing in a court of law
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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mentionernoun
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prementionnoun
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intermentionverb
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rementionverb (used with object)
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mentionableadjective
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undermentionedadjective
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unmentionedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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mentionsimple
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mentionssimple
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have mentionedperfect
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has mentionedperfect
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am mentioningprogressive
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are mentioningprogressive
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is mentioningprogressive
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have been mentioningperfect progressive
-
has been mentioningperfect progressive
Past
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mentionedsimple
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had mentionedperfect
-
was mentioningprogressive
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were mentioningprogressive
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had been mentioningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of mention
First recorded in 1250–1300; from Latin mentiōn-, stem of mentiō, literally, “a calling to mind, a touching upon” ( see mental 1, -ion); replacing Middle English mencioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin, as above
Explanation
To mention something is to bring it up. If your mother embarrasses you by constantly mentioning your stuffed animal that you've been sleeping with for the past 15 years, you might mention it to her. In the context of awards, an "honorable mention" is an official recognition but not a prize. If you enter a writing competition, the judges might not think your piece is the best, but they might mention, or briefly say, that it came very close to winning.
Vocabulary lists containing mention
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 6
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 4
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The New SAT: The Language of the Test
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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.
See Examples For:
The post did not mention specific stories or reporting that led to the move.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Also: a very honorable mention to Meg Stalter dressed as a literal Emmy statue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
One thing they didn’t mention: a coordinated slowdown could also be financially beneficial for them all.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
A curt “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” reunion featuring David Boreanaz and Sarah Michelle Gellar failed to mention recently lost castmates Anthony Head, Nicholas Brendon and Michelle Trachtenberg by name.
From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2026
“Married other girls, sad to say. Now, Eben, if you ever mention a word of this to your aunt, there’ll be trouble for you.”
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
It feels as though Gabriel is at that 'in-between' point Giggs mentions just now.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Elsesser mentions his natural collector’s streak and inclination toward abundance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
Most people never find out the second number exists, because nothing they receive from their employer mentions it.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026
Social mentions of “maxxing” grew 675% in the first seven months of this year over the same period last year, according to Sprout Social.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
“In one of them he mentions getting a new game console for Christmas.”
From "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" by David Barclay Moore
A non-profit organization called Model Evaluation and Threat Research has grown in prominence recently after being mentioned in Amodei’s essay as a potential third-party evaluator.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026
Previous headliners Radiohead, Pulp and Florence and the Machine have also been mentioned in some quarters along with Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Chappell Roan and Eminem.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
I saw Australian comic Amos Gill last week at the D.C Comedy Loft, where he brought up the problem I mentioned up top.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026
Have we mentioned Ms. Hochul is on the ballot, seeking re-election to a second full term?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
I mentioned that time she drove off to Indy, but she’s done it a few times on foot as well, since she moved in.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
There is still a graphic sense of his distress at walking behind her coffin, with Prince Harry mentioning Earl Spencer's opposition.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
The novelist declines to honor the man by mentioning his name, instead referring to him merely as “the A.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
This bears mentioning since Hargitay opened Monday’s Emmys telecast by performing “I Love TV Screens,” profaning Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” in doing so.
From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2026
“The other day someone was mentioning that we have a peculiar way of referencing history in a way that’s not linear,” Deanna says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Why she’s mentioning this to The Taker now, though—some part of her is being evil even when she’s trying to be nice, she thinks.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
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.
