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Glite Dictionary
to have in mind

to have in mind

224 3.2
To think of a certain person, thing, or idea
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : 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
834 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
∞ 2.4
to have in mind
224 3.2
to think of
834 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.