state-of-mind
/ˈsteɪt əv maɪnd/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A person's mental condition or mood at a particular time. It describes how someone feels or thinks right now, especially under stress or pressure.
- She was in a calm state of mind.
- I wasn't in the right state of mind for the meeting.
- His state of mind changed after the bad news.
Adinary Nuance
State of mind is wider than mood. Mood usually means a temporary feeling, while state of mind can include thoughts, emotions, and mental readiness. It is also more neutral and useful in formal writing than casual words like vibe.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tâm trạng
- Spanish
- estado de ánimo
- Chinese
- 精神状态
- Japanese
- 心の状態
- Korean
- 정신 상태
Etymology
The phrase combines state, from Old French and Latin, with mind, from Old English. It became common in English as a way to describe someone's mental or emotional condition.
Common phrases
in a good state of mindin the right state of mindmental state of mindstate of mind matters
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is "state of mind" formal or informal?
- It is neutral and works in both spoken and written English.
- What is the difference between "state of mind" and "mood"?
- Mood is a feeling. State of mind can include feelings, thoughts, and mental condition.
- Can I use "state of mind" in academic writing?
- Yes, it is clear and suitable, especially in psychology or personal writing.
- How do I use "state of mind" in a sentence?
- Say: "I was not in the right state of mind."