Phrase guide

spring to mind

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To appear suddenly in one's thoughts, often as an example of something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

be remembered

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • His name comes to mind when you mention the strike

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: come to mind

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: appear

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 突然想起 (tūrán xiǎngqǐ) — appear in one's thoughts
  • Dutch: te binnen schieten — appear in one's thoughts
  • Finnish: tulla mieleen — appear in one's thoughts
  • Finnish: muistua mieleen — appear in one's thoughts
  • Finnish: juolahtaa mieleen — appear in one's thoughts
  • French: venir à l'esprit — appear in one's thoughts
  • French: passer par la tête — appear in one's thoughts
  • Galician: acordar — appear in one's thoughts
  • German: in den Sinn kommen — appear in one's thoughts
  • Hungarian: eszébe jut — appear in one's thoughts
  • Ingrian: tärkähtää päähä — appear in one's thoughts
  • Ingrian: tärkähtäissä päähä — appear in one's thoughts
  • Latin: subeo — appear in one's thoughts
  • Māori: kowhana — appear in one's thoughts
  • Māori: totoko — appear in one's thoughts
  • Māori: wheriko — appear in one's thoughts
  • Old English: on mōd berinnan — appear in one's thoughts
  • Polish: przychodzić do głowy — appear in one's thoughts
  • Polish: przyjść do głowy — appear in one's thoughts
  • Russian: приходи́ть на ум (prixodítʹ na um) — appear in one's thoughts
  • Russian: прийти́ на ум (prijtí na um) — appear in one's thoughts
  • Russian: приходи́ть в го́лову (prixodítʹ v gólovu) — appear in one's thoughts
  • Russian: прийти́ в го́лову (prijtí v gólovu) — appear in one's thoughts
  • Scottish Gaelic: buail an ceann — appear in one's thoughts
  • Spanish: ocurrir — appear in one's thoughts
  • Tamil: தோன்று (tōṉṟu) — appear in one's thoughts
  • Turkish: akla gelmek — appear in one's thoughts