come to mind
Pop into consciousness
Come to mind describes thoughts or memories surfacing spontaneously in consciousness.
When something comes to mind, you don't deliberately retrieve it—it simply appears: What comes to mind when you think of Paris?
No good examples come to mind right now.
The phrase often appears with nothing, something, or a question word: Nothing comes to mind.
Appear abruptly, unexpectedly
- occurCome into being
- springRecoiling metal spiral
- flashBrief burst of light
- surfaceOutermost boundary layer
arise · emerge · strike · hit · dawn on · bubble up · suggest itself · jump out
Come into being
- considerThink about carefully
- think ofMentally produce or recall
- reflectReturn light or thought
- ponderThink deeply about
muse · contemplate · imagine · envision · conceive · notion · idea · concept
Memory retrieval act
- rememberRetain in mind
- recollectRetrieve past experiences
- reminisceRecall past experiences fondly
- flashbackInvoluntary past memory
nostalgia · reminiscence · memory · retrieve · think back · look back · bring back · conjure up
Join or link
- linkPoint of connection
- relateConnect or recount
- suggestOffer an idea indirectly
- evokeBring forth mentally
conjure · trigger · parallel · analogy · similarity · connection · correlation · connotation
Spontaneous idea generation
- ideateForm mental concepts
- createCause to exist
- innovateIntroduce novel methods
- eurekaDiscovery triumph cry
lightbulb · spark · flash · breakthrough · epiphany · vision · creativity · imagination
pop up
Appear abruptly, unexpectedly
surface · arise · emerge · strike · hit · dawn on · bubble up · suggest itself · jump out · click
occur
Come into being
ponder · muse · contemplate · imagine · envision · conceive · notion · idea · concept · thought
recall
Memory retrieval act
flashback · nostalgia · reminiscence · memory · retrieve · think back · look back · bring back · conjure up · dredge up
connect
Join or link
evoke · conjure · trigger · parallel · analogy · similarity · connection · correlation · connotation · allusion
brainstorm
Spontaneous idea generation
eureka · lightbulb · spark · flash · breakthrough · epiphany · vision · creativity · imagination · ingenuity
- memoryremember, forget, recall, memorize, recollect
- verbsjump, be, speak, wait, do
- Mind/Thought Idiomstrain of thought, food for thought, brainstorm, brain wave, think tank
- memory phrasesring a bell, jog your memory, tip of tongue, commit to memory, vivid memory
come to mindrack one's brain
Think very hard
draw a blank · think hard · elude · dig deep
mind, come, become, coming, overcome, remind, becoming, came, mindful