strong mind

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   the ability to think clearly, stay calm, and keep going when things are hard.

   Grammar: Countable: say 'a strong mind' or 'strong minds'; it refers to a quality of a person.

   Patterns

   • have a strong mind
   • develop a strong mind
   • a strong mind and a kind heart

   She has a strong mind, so she never gives up when a project gets difficult.

   Training your body is easy, but building a strong mind takes years.

   His strong mind helped him stay calm during the emergency.

2. 2nounplural

   a person who thinks in a powerful, independent way (used in the plural).

   Grammar: Usually in the plural 'strong minds' to mean several intelligent or determined people.

   Patterns

   • great minds
   • strong minds think alike

   The school wants to attract strong minds from all over the country.

   Strong minds are not afraid to ask questions.

Word forms

Common combinations

have a strong mind

You need to have a strong mind to run a marathon.

develop a strong mind

Reading philosophy can help you develop a strong mind.

a strong mind and body

Yoga trains both a strong mind and body.

keep a strong mind

She kept a strong mind even when the news was bad.

Synonyms and how they differ

resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties, while a strong mind is a more general mental power.

willpower

Willpower is the specific strength to control your actions and resist temptation; a strong mind is broader.

mental toughness

Mental toughness is similar but often used in sports; a strong mind is more everyday.

Opposites

Word family

strong-minded adjective

Having firm opinions and not easily influenced.

strong-willed adjective

Determined to do what you want.

Commonly confused: strong mind or strong-minded?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “strong mind”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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