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Glite Dictionary
to have in mind

to have in mind

340 3.2
To think of a certain person, thing, or idea
  • phrasal verb
: tener en mente
  • This is nothing like what I had in mind at all.
  • exactly what I had in mind
  • seem to have in mind
  • he had in mind when he spoke

This is nothing like what I had in mind at all.

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Examples

  • What do you have in mind?

    The Ant Bully (2006)

  • What date did you have in mind?

    Saw X (2023)

  • So this is exactly what we have in mind here also.

  • Wow, this is not what I had in mind, but these look so cool.

  • I said, "What do you have in mind?"

    Behind the Burly Q (2010)

  • Student: I like it, but it's not exactly what I had in mind.

    Academic text (2013)

  • What precisely did you have in mind?

    Gable and Lombard (1976)

  • The important film the executive had in mind was Saving Private Ryan.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Now when we say history, we have in mind an interdisciplinary approach.

  • What do you have in mind for the project next week?

Synonyms

to mean
vsto have in mind
∞ 1.6

Intend to talk about someone or something

is used for considering or referring to a target rather than showing intent
to think about
vsto have in mind
∞ 1.0

To give attention to something in your mind

is about keeping or referring to a specific target rather than reflecting deeply
to think of
vsto have in mind
∞ 1.0

See someone or something in a certain way

is about keeping a specific person or idea in view when mentioning them

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

How Certain

to decide
∞ 1.0
to plan
∞ 1.0
to intend
954 2.4
to have in mind
340 3.2
to think of
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

have in mind infinitive
had in mind past
had in mind past participle
having in mind present participle
has in mind third person singular

Morphology

have + in + mind

The meaning 'to be thinking of or considering' is directly and compositionally derived from 'have' (to possess) + 'in' (inside) + 'mind' (mental space): one literally 'has' something inside their mind. This construction is common across many languages (e.g., Spanish 'tener en mente', French 'avoir en tête'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would typically understand it.

Etymology

Have in mind comes from the simple picture of holding something inside your head: you have a picture or a name in your mind. So it means 'to be thinking of' or 'to plan' a particular person, thing, or idea.