Mind is the part of you that thinks, feels, remembers, and experiences the world. Your mind is where you imagine adventures, solve math problems, feel excited about your birthday, remember your grandmother's face, and decide what to do next. It's not a physical thing you can point to like your heart or lungs, though scientists know it emerges from the activity of your brain.

When someone says “never mind,” they mean forget about it or don't worry about it. When you “mind your manners,” you pay attention to being polite. If something is “on your mind,” you're thinking about it a lot. To “make up your mind” means to reach a decision after considering your options.

The phrase “mind over matter” suggests that mental determination can overcome physical challenges. A nervous student giving a speech might use mind over matter to push through stage fright. When you “put your mind to” something, you focus your mental energy on accomplishing it.

People also use mind as a verb meaning to care about or be bothered by something. “Do you mind if I borrow your pencil?” asks if it would bother you. “I don't mind waiting” means waiting doesn't trouble you.

The human mind remains one of nature's great mysteries. Scientists still don't fully understand how the physical brain creates the experience of having thoughts, feelings, and consciousness.