mentioned

IPA/ˈmen.ʃən/
KK[mˈɛnʃənd]IPA/ˈmen.ʃən/

mentioned — verb

  • mentionedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • mentioneds3rd person singular
  • mentioneding-ing form
  • mentionededpast simple

1. to say something about a person or topic in only a few words, without giving a f

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to say something about a person or topic in only a few words, without giving a full explanation or going into detail

Example

During the meeting, Dr. Chen mentioned the new budget cuts but did not explain them.

mention + noun phrase without elaboration

Wei briefly mentioned his trip to Taipei when a colleague asked about his weekend.

mentioned + brief description

Common collocations
  • mentioned briefly
  • mentioned in passing
  • mentioned earlier
  • mentioned above
Synonyms
  • refer to

    less specific about how much detail is given

  • touch on

    less formal, suggests covering briefly in a conversation

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

mention + noun phrase

mention + that-clause

Usage Note

The focus of this sense is on brevity — the speaker or writer gives only a small amount of information. For a more detailed explanation, use 'explain' or 'describe' instead.

Common Mistakes

She mentioned in detail how the machine works.
She described in detail how the machine works.
When you give a lot of information, use 'describe' or 'explain' instead of 'mention'.

2. to talk or write about a person, thing, or idea, especially by naming them direc

2.verbtransitiveA2
Definition

to talk or write about a person, thing, or idea, especially by naming them directly in a conversation, document, or other context

Example

The report mentioned several cities that have improved their public transport systems.

mention + noun phrase in a written context

Deepa mentioned her grandmother's cooking when the topic of family recipes came up.

Common collocations
  • mentioned in the report
  • mentioned by name
  • mentioned during the discussion
Synonyms
  • bring up

    less formal, used in conversation

  • note

    slightly more formal, often in writing

  • allude to

    more indirect, less direct than 'mention'

Antonyms
  • omit

    to leave out on purpose

  • overlook

    to fail to mention by accident

Grammar Patterns

mention + noun/noun phrase

mention + that-clause

mention + wh-clause

Usage Note

Unlike sense 1 (BRIEF REFERENCE), this sense does not specifically emphasise brevity — 'mention' here simply means to bring a topic into a conversation or text. It is the most general and frequently used sense of the verb.

Common Mistakes

She mentioned about the party.
She mentioned the party.
'Mention' is a transitive verb; do not add 'about' after it.

3. to name someone as a suitable person for a position, award, or recognition, or t

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to name someone as a suitable person for a position, award, or recognition, or to speak favourably of their work or achievements

Example

Several colleagues mentioned Javier as an excellent choice for the team leader position.

mention + noun + as + role

Pablo was mentioned in the newsletter for his volunteer work at the community centre.

passive: be mentioned for + achievement

Common collocations
  • mentioned as a candidate
  • mentioned for the position
  • mentioned in the report
Synonyms
  • recommend

    stronger and more direct than 'mention'

  • nominate

    formal, especially for awards or positions

  • commend

    formal, with a focus on praising

Antonyms
  • overlook

    to fail to recommend someone who deserves it

Grammar Patterns

mention + noun + as/for + noun phrase

be mentioned as/for

Usage Note

Frequently used in the passive voice ('be mentioned as/for'). This sense is distinct from senses 1 and 2 because it implies a positive judgment or a recommendation, not just a neutral reference.

Common Mistakes

He mentioned for the award.
He was mentioned for the award.
When the meaning is 'recommend', the passive construction is very common.

mentioned — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

'Mention' (A2) is the most neutral and common word — it simply means talking or writing about someone or something. 'Refer to' (B1) can be more indirect, implying that the speaker points the listener's attention toward something without necessarily naming it directly. 'Bring up' (B1) is informal and suggests raising a topic in conversation, often one that might be sensitive or unexpected. 'Cite' (B2) is formal and is typically used in academic or legal writing to give evidence or quote a source. 'Note' (B1) is slightly more formal than 'mention' and often appears in written reports or observations — it carries a sense of calling attention to a specific fact. For example: 'Ethan mentioned the deadline' (neutral). 'The report notes several key findings' (formal observation). 'The lawyer cited three previous cases' (formal evidence).

mention ↗refer to ↗bring up ↗cite ↗note ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

'Mention' comes from Latin 'mentio', meaning 'a calling to mind, a remembrance' — which itself comes from 'mens' (mind). The word passed through Old French 'mentiun' before entering Middle English around the 1300s. The original sense of 'bringing to mind' gradually shifted to the modern meaning of 'speaking about something briefly'.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb