minded

minded — adjective

1. used after an adjective or noun to say that someone has a particular type of cha

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

used after an adjective or noun to say that someone has a particular type of character, attitude, or way of thinking about things. For example, someone who is open-minded is willing to consider new or different ideas, while a narrow-minded person refuses to accept views that differ from their own.

Example

Tamar's open-minded approach to new ideas made her a popular team leader.

compound adjective: open-minded / narrow-minded / strong-minded

The narrow-minded attitude of the old manager frustrated everyone in the office.

Common collocations
  • open-minded
  • narrow-minded
  • strong-minded
  • like-minded
  • simple-minded
  • absent-minded
  • single-minded
  • fair-minded
Synonyms
  • open-minded

    specifically describes willingness to consider new ideas — a subset of sense 1 compounds

  • broad-minded

    suggests general tolerance of different views and lifestyles; less common than open-minded

  • narrow-minded

    the opposite end of the attitude spectrum — unwilling to accept different views

Grammar Patterns

[adjective/noun] + minded

Usage Note

This sense produces compound adjectives where -minded attaches to another word. The resulting compound always appears before a noun (attributive) or after a linking verb (predicative), but -minded itself cannot stand alone — you must say 'open-minded', not 'minded'. The most frequent compounds in this sense are: open-minded, narrow-minded, strong-minded, like-minded, and simple-minded.

Common Mistakes

She is minded about politics.
She is open-minded about politics.
The element -minded must join with another word; it cannot appear by itself as a free-standing adjective in this sense.
He is a minded person.
He is a strong-minded person.
Same rule: the adjective needs a preceding word to form a complete compound.

2. used after an adverb to describe someone whose mind is suited to a particular ty

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

used after an adverb to describe someone whose mind is suited to a particular type of thinking or area of knowledge. For example, an academically-minded student enjoys studying and research, while a practically-minded person prefers hands-on problem-solving over theory.

Example

Many universities actively look for academically-minded students who enjoy independent research.

adverb + minded: academically-minded, scientifically-minded, mathematically-minded

Jessica's scientifically-minded approach helped the team solve the chemistry problem quickly.

Common collocations
  • academically-minded
  • scientifically-minded
  • mathematically-minded
  • practically-minded
  • technically-minded
  • artistically-minded
Synonyms
  • inclined

    broader meaning — can describe any tendency, not just intellectual; also has its own compound patterns

  • gifted

    stronger — implies natural talent rather than just interest or suitability

Grammar Patterns

[adverb] + minded

Usage Note

The preceding word in this sense is typically an adverb ending in -ly (academically, scientifically, mathematically, technically, practically, artistically). The compound describes intellectual inclination or natural ability rather than general character — distinguish this from sense 1 (character/attitude) and sense 3 (enthusiasm).

3. used after a noun to describe someone who is very interested in a particular sub

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

used after a noun to describe someone who is very interested in a particular subject, activity, or area and wants to be involved in it. For example, a sport-minded person enjoys playing or following sports, and a fashion-minded person follows clothing trends closely.

Example

Eri is very sport-minded and spends every weekend playing basketball at the local court.

noun + minded: sport-minded, fashion-minded, business-minded

The fashion-minded crowd gathered outside the show, eager to see the latest collection.

Common collocations
  • sport-minded
  • fashion-minded
  • business-minded
  • career-minded
  • money-minded
  • community-minded
Synonyms
  • keen on

    a phrasal adjective that can replace sport-minded or fashion-minded in many contexts; more common in British English

  • enthusiastic about

    fuller phrase; less compact than the compound but usable in any register

Grammar Patterns

[noun] + minded

Usage Note

The preceding word in this sense is a noun referring to a domain of interest (sport, fashion, business, career, money, community). The compound describes active interest or enthusiasm, not intellectual ability — contrast with sense 2 (APTITUDE), where the preceding word is an adverb and the compound describes mental suitability. Some nouns (e.g., business) can combine with -minded in both sense 2 and sense 3 depending on context.

Common Mistakes

She is minded about fashion.
She is fashion-minded.
Even when the meaning is 'interested in,' the -minded form must still attach to a preceding noun.

4. feeling that you want or intend to do a particular thing; inclined or disposed t

4.adjectiveC1
Definition

feeling that you want or intend to do a particular thing; inclined or disposed toward a certain action. Someone who is minded to accept an offer is leaning toward saying yes but may not have made a final decision yet.

Example

The judge was minded to give the young offender a second chance instead of jail.

predicative: be minded to + infinitive — cannot be used before a noun

Mayumi said she was minded to accept the job offer after careful thought.

Common collocations
  • minded to accept
  • minded to agree
  • minded to reject
  • minded to refuse
  • minded to approve
  • minded to allow
  • not minded to
Synonyms
  • inclined to

    very similar meaning and formality; interchangeable in most contexts

  • disposed to

    slightly more formal; often used in legal or official writing

  • of a mind to

    idiomatic phrase with the same meaning; slightly informal by comparison

Antonyms
  • unwilling to

    expresses definite refusal rather than mere lack of inclination

Grammar Patterns

be minded to + infinitive

Usage Note

This is the only sense where minded can appear as a standalone adjective without attaching to a preceding word. It is used only in predicative position (after a linking verb such as be, seem, or appear) and must be followed by a to-infinitive. This sense is noticeably more formal and somewhat dated in modern English — it appears most often in legal, official, or literary contexts. In everyday conversation, speakers prefer inclined to, thinking of, or planning to.

Common Mistakes

He is a minded person.
He is minded to accept the offer.
In this sense, minded requires a to-infinitive after it and cannot go before a noun.
She minded to go home.' (past tense)
She was minded to go home.
Minded in this sense is always an adjective (with be/seem/appear), never a verb.

Word family

  • mind
    nounA2
  • mind
    verbB1
  • mindful
    adjectiveB2
  • mindless
    adjectiveC1
  • mindset
    nounB2
  • mindfulness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe willingness to consider different ideas or people, but they differ in scope and typical context. Open-minded is the most common general term — it focuses on willingness to hear new opinions without immediately rejecting them. Broad-minded is very close but often implies tolerance of lifestyles or moral views rather than just ideas. Tolerant is broader still — it describes accepting behaviour or beliefs you may personally disagree with, and works across social, political, and cultural contexts. Receptive is more specific: it means ready to listen to or accept new suggestions, especially in professional or learning environments. For example, 'a receptive audience' means people who are willing to hear what the speaker says, while 'an open-minded manager' suggests a general willingness to consider staff ideas. In practice, open-minded covers most everyday situations, while tolerant is better when describing acceptance of people with different backgrounds or lifestyles.

open-mindedbroad-mindedtolerant ↗receptive

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • minded to + infinitive
  • open-minded about
  • narrow-minded about
  • like-minded in

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

The word minded comes from the Old English adjective gemynd (meaning 'remembering, mindful'), combined with the adjective suffix -ed. In early Middle English, minded meant 'having a mind or memory.' By the 16th century it had developed the meaning 'having a particular kind of mind,' first appearing in compounds like well-minded and evil-minded. The standalone predicative sense ('inclined to do something') dates from the same period, originally used in phrases such as 'he was minded to travel.' The modern use as a productive combining form (-minded, attached to adjectives, adverbs, and nouns) became widespread in the 19th and 20th centuries, producing hundreds of compounds that let English speakers compactly describe personality and interests.