think

1 of 3

verb

ˈthiŋk 

thought ˈthȯt  ; thinking

transitive verb

1

: to form or have in the mind

2

: to have as an intention

thought to return early

3

a

: to have as an opinion

think it's so

b

: to regard as : consider

think the rule unfair

4

a

: to reflect on : ponder

think the matter over

b

: to determine by reflecting

think what to do next

5

: to call to mind : remember

He never thinks to ask how we are.

6

: to devise by thinking

—usually used with up

thought up a plan to escape

7

: to have as an expectation : anticipate

We didn't think we'd have any trouble.

8

a

: to center one's thoughts on

talks and thinks business

b

: to form a mental picture of

9

: to subject to the processes of logical thought

think things out

intransitive verb

1

a

: to exercise the powers of judgment, conception, or inference : reason

b

: to have in the mind or call to mind a thought

2

a

: to have the mind engaged in reflection : meditate

b

: to consider the suitability

thought of her for president

3

: to have a view or opinion

thinks of himself as a poet

4

: to have concern

—usually used with of

I must think first of my family.

5

: to consider something likely : suspect

may happen sooner than you think

thinker noun

think

2 of 3

noun

: an act of thinking

He has to make up his mind, in a deep, hard think, whether he really believes that philanthropy is worth while.

—Jerome Ellison

… returned home for a rest and a good think.

—Richard Corliss

If he thinks he can fool me, he has another think coming. [=he is wrong]

think

3 of 3

adjective

: relating to, requiring, or stimulating thinking

Phrases

think better of

: to reconsider and make a wiser decision

think much of

: to view with satisfaction : approve

—usually used in negative constructions

I didn't think much of the new car.

Synonyms

Verb

• allow [chiefly Southern & Midland]
• believe
• conceive
• consider
• deem
• esteem
• feel
• figure
• guess
• hold
• imagine
• judge
• reckon [chiefly dialect]
• suppose

Choose the Right Synonym for think

think, conceive, imagine, fancy, realize, envisage, envision mean to form an idea of.

think implies the entrance of an idea into one's mind with or without deliberate consideration or reflection.

I just thought of a good joke

conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.

conceived of a new marketing approach

imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

envisage and envision imply a conceiving or imagining that is especially clear or detailed.

envisaged a totally computerized operation

envisioned a cure for the disease

think, cogitate, reflect, reason, speculate, deliberate mean to use one's powers of conception, judgment, or inference.

think is general and may apply to any mental activity, but used alone often suggests attainment of clear ideas or conclusions.

teaches students how to think

cogitate implies deep or intent thinking.

cogitated on the mysteries of nature

reflect suggests unhurried consideration of something recalled to the mind.

reflecting on fifty years of married life

reason stresses consecutive logical thinking.

able to reason brilliantly in debate

speculate implies reasoning about things theoretical or problematic.

speculated on the fate of the lost explorers

deliberate suggests slow or careful reasoning before forming an opinion or reaching a conclusion or decision.

the jury deliberated for five hours

Examples of think in a Sentence

Verb

We may finish sooner than you think.

You should relax and try to think pleasant thoughts.

I was just thinking what it would be like to be a doctor.

I dread to think how he will react.

Why do you always think the worst?

Just think how nice it would be to live here.

Just think—in two days we'll be on vacation, lying on the beach.

Noun

I'd have another think about doing that if I were you.

Feel free to have a good think about it before you say yes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Parmigiano-Reggiano is one of the world’s most famous and beloved cheeses, yet its birthplace is rarely one of the first places that people think of when planning a trip to Italy. —Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 2024

Not everyone thinks the jokes are funny, of course. —Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2024

Adjective

When cell walls hold strong, foods hoard their precious calories and pass through our body intact (think corn). —Rob Dunn, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2013

The officer asked to inspect the unit, which had a think dark-colored liquid. —John Benson, cleveland, 12 May 2021

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English thenken, from Old English thencan; akin to Old High German denken to think, Latin tongēre to know — more at thanks

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1834, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1883, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing think

• come to think of it
• don't even think about (doing) it
• do you think (that)
• has another think coming
• hear oneself think
• I should/would think
• I think not
• I think so
• let me think
• not think anything of
• not think much of
• see/think fit
• shudder to think (of)
• stop to think
• that's what you think
• think again
• think ahead
• think aloud/out loud
• think back
• think badly of
• think big
• think factory
• think for oneself
• think less of
• think nothing of
• think nothing of it
• think oneself
• think outside the box
• think over
• think piece
• think tank
• think the world of
• think things over
• think through
• think twice
• think up
• to think
• What do you think you're doing with
• you/one would think (that)

Kids Definition

think

verb

ˈthiŋk

thought

ˈthȯt

; thinking

1

: to form or have in the mind

afraid to think what might happen

2

: to have as an opinion : believe

think it's so

3

: to hold in the mind for some time : ponder

think the matter over

think about it

4

: to call to mind : remember

never thought to ask

he never thinks to call home

5

: to use the power of reason

think before you write your answer

6

: to have an opinion

they think highly of you

7

: to have concern

I must think of my family first

8

: to invent by thinking

—usually used with up

always thinking up new schemes

thinkable

ˈthiŋ-kə-bəl

adjective

thinker noun