Top of mind

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Top of mind" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is currently being thought about or prioritized. Example: "With the upcoming deadline, the project is top of mind for our team right now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

"Top of mind is clearly to assemble the best staff we can".

The New York Times

Top of mind is the KL metro's cousin, Malaysia Airlines.

Huffington Post

Top of mind awareness will grow.

WikiHow

"Anything top of mind?

The New Yorker

GOVERNMENT debt has been top of mind this summer.

The New York Times

"It has not been top of mind," she said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

He wants to keep this disease top-of-mind".

The New York Times - Sports

"I want us to be top-of-mind".

The New York Times

"It is no longer a top-of-mind issue for most voters.

The New York Times

"We want protecting consumers against food-borne illness to be top-of-mind all the time".

The New York Times

"We need to make it more top-of-mind, give it a little nudge".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Top of mind" to emphasize the current relevance or priority of a topic. For example, when discussing project milestones with your team, highlight that meeting the deadline is "top of mind" for everyone.

Common error

While "Top of mind" is acceptable in many contexts, consider more formal alternatives such as "primary focus" or "of greatest concern" in academic or highly professional documents.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Top of mind" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that something is at the forefront of one's thoughts or of greatest concern. Ludwig AI confirms its prevalent usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

15%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Top of mind" is a versatile adjective phrase used to convey that something is currently being thought about or is of high priority. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various domains, particularly in news and media. While generally acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives in academic or professional writing. To effectively employ this phrase, emphasize the current relevance or priority of the topic at hand. Be aware of the potential for overuse, and remember that context is key when choosing the most appropriate expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Foremost in one's thoughts

This alternative uses more formal language to convey the idea of something being at the front of one's mind.

Of greatest concern

This phrase shifts the focus to the importance or priority of the thought or issue.

Primary focus

This alternative emphasizes the central point of attention or concentration.

Main priority

This highlights the importance of something needing to be dealt with first.

At the forefront of attention

This alternative emphasizes the prominence and visibility of the thought or issue.

Upper most in one's mind

A slightly more emphatic way of saying something is at the front of your mind.

Central to one's thinking

Focuses on the idea that something is essential to one's thought processes.

Dominant thought

Indicates that a particular thought is prevailing or overpowering other thoughts.

The biggest thing on one's mind

An informal way of saying something is one's greatest concern at a particular time.

Most pressing matter

This emphasizes the urgency or importance of the issue at hand.

FAQs

How can I use "Top of mind" in a sentence?

You can use "Top of mind" to indicate that something is currently being thought about or is of high priority. For example, "Customer satisfaction is "top of mind" for our company this quarter."

What are some alternatives to "Top of mind"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "foremost in one's thoughts", "of greatest concern", or "primary focus".

Is "Top of mind" appropriate for formal writing?

While "Top of mind" is widely understood, it might be considered too informal for certain academic or professional contexts. In such cases, consider using alternatives like "principal concern" or "chief priority".

What does it mean when something is "Top of mind"?

When something is "Top of mind", it means that it is the most important or relevant thing someone is thinking about at a particular time. It signifies something that is a "priority" or of greatest concern.