mentor

[ men-tawr, -ter ]
See synonyms for mentor on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.

  2. an influential senior sponsor or supporter.

verb (used without object)
  1. to act as a mentor: She spent years mentoring to junior employees.

verb (used with object)
  1. to act as a mentor to: The brash young executive did not wish to be mentored by anyone.

Origin of mentor

1
First recorded in 1740–50; after Mentor (from Greek Méntōr )

Other words for mentor

Other words from mentor

  • men·tor·ship, noun

Words Nearby mentor

Other definitions for Mentor (2 of 3)

Mentor1
[ men-ter ]

noun
  1. a town in NE Ohio.

Other definitions for Mentor (3 of 3)

Mentor2
[ men-tawr, -ter ]

noun
  1. (in the Odyssey) a loyal adviser of Odysseus entrusted with the care and education of Telemachus.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use mentor in a sentence

  • Although he was on the eve of his departure for Lucknau, he was, nevertheless, kind enough to become my mentor.

  • "Ugly Collins has either lost his time-card er has traded his wagon fer a airyplane," said the mentor.

    David Lannarck, Midget | George S. Harney
  • However, their guide, mentor, and boss had a faraway look in his eye—seemed impatient to get going.

    David Lannarck, Midget | George S. Harney
  • Frank is my social mentor, though I care little about society in the general acceptance of the term.

    My Wonderful Visit | Charlie Chaplin
  • The King pleaded in vain that he might still serve as mentor in the coming negotiation; the Emperor scornfully refused.

    The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte | William Milligan Sloane

British Dictionary definitions for mentor (1 of 2)

mentor

/ (ˈmɛntɔː) /


noun
  1. a wise or trusted adviser or guide

verb
  1. to act as a mentor to (someone); train

Origin of mentor

1
C18: from Mentor

Derived forms of mentor

  • mentorial, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for Mentor (2 of 2)

Mentor

/ (ˈmɛntɔː) /


noun
  1. the friend whom Odysseus put in charge of his household when he left for Troy. He was the adviser of the young Telemachus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012