Mention is a word with several related senses. As a noun, it can mean a brief referencea short remark or allusion to a person, thing, or idea to something or a formal acknowledgmenta formal statement showing recognition or thanks. As a verb, it means to referto mention or point to something in passing to something briefly or bring it up in speech or writing.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈmɛnʃən/
Easy pronunciation: MEN-shun (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: MEN-shun.
Use the noun sense meaning a brief reference to something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Mention Meaning
a brief reference to something
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a remark that calls attention to something or someone
Example: There was no mention of the new policy in the meeting.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- reference — A brief reference to something; works well in this sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Mention
Meaning 2
a note giving credit to a source
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage
Example: The report includes a mention of the original study.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- acknowledgment — Works when mention means giving credit to a source.
- citation — A formal source reference.
- credit — Used when recognizing the source or author.
- reference — Can work in academic or source-credit contexts.
Meaning 3
special recognition for doing well
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an official recognition of merit
Example: She received an honorable mention for her painting.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- honorable mention — The direct term for this award-like recognition.
Meaning 4
to say something briefly
Part of speech: verb
Definition: make mention of
Example: He mentioned the problem during the call.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- note — Can mean mention briefly.
- observe — Works in formal writing when meaning to comment briefly.
- remark — Can mean mention or comment briefly.
Meaning 5
to refer to something or someone
Part of speech: verb
Definition: make reference to
Example: The witness mentioned his earlier statement.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- advert — Formal usage meaning refer to.
- bring up — Common spoken substitute when introducing a topic.
- cite — Works when referring to a source or case.
- name — Can mean identify or refer to someone directly.
- refer — Direct synonym in this sense.
Meaning 6
to praise or commend
Part of speech: verb
Definition: commend
Example: The committee mentioned her for her service.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- cite — Can mean praise or commend in formal usage.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Mention Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- reference
- acknowledgment
- citation
- credit
official recognition of merit
- honorable mention
to say something briefly
- note
- remark
- bring up
- refer
to refer to a source, person, or topic
- advert
- cite
- name
to praise or commend
- cite
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not use mention to mean a full explanation or detailed discussion.
- Do not confuse honorable mention with a casual reference.
- Do not treat citation and quotation as interchangeable with mention in everyday speech.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does mention mean?
Mention usually means a brief reference to someone or something. It can also mean a formal acknowledgment or special recognition, depending on the context.
What are the synonyms of mention?
Common synonyms depend on the sense. For the verb, words like refer, bring up, note, and remark can work. For the noun meaning a brief reference, reference is the closest match.
Is mention a noun or a verb?
It can be both. As a noun, it means a brief reference or recognition. As a verb, it means to refer to something briefly or bring it up.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.