Synonym Chooser

How is the word think distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of think are conceive, envisage, envision, fancy, imagine, and realize. While all these words 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

When is it sensible to use conceive instead of think?

Although the words conceive and think have much in common, conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.

conceived of a new marketing approach

How do envisage and envision relate to one another, in the sense of think?

Both 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

When is fancy a more appropriate choice than think?

The synonyms fancy and think are sometimes interchangeable, but fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

When might imagine be a better fit than think?

The words imagine and think can be used in similar contexts, but imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When can realize be used instead of think?

In some situations, the words realize and think are roughly equivalent. However, realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of think Now is the time of year when families start thinking about a summer vacation. Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025 These studies were also really an investigation of color, thinking of the way graphic scores can work and trying to convey a mood or tone through color theory. Caitlin Woolsey, Artforum, 1 June 2025 One mother thought she was headed to Washington, D.C. Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 1 June 2025 Here’s a look at the cast, then and now Maggie (Missy Peregrym) and Isobel, who was initially thought dead in the explosion that killed Reynolds, both overhear Keene plotting with another Forefront mole, Special Agent Wabash. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for think
Recent Examples of Synonyms for think
Verb
  • The teen is believed to be from the Upper East Side, WABC Eyewitness News reported.
    Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 31 May 2025
  • PwC’s 2023 Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey found that 39% of workers believe their job will be obsolete within five years, yet only 26% say their employer is supporting them to acquire new skills.
    Sol Rashidi, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Verb
  • And leadership is left guessing where the money is leaking.
    Sally Ragab, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • Participants looked at composite face images created from using images of individuals with extremely high or low scores on personality inventories, and participants were asked to guess which face had more of a particular trait.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • Finally, imagine tucking your anxiety into a cozy box and carrying it gently in a small bag slung over your shoulder, wrote Beck.
    Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 30 May 2025
  • Olivia Jan, who worked on the Grassland Opera fragrance imagined the scent of the herbaceous orbexilum stipulatum flower.
    Nicole Mowbray, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • With its affordable pricing, skilled surgeons and cutting-edge methods like FUE and DHI, Turkey is often considered the go-to destination for hair restoration.
    Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
  • In addition, a Nissan spokesman confirmed that the company is considering offering EREV options in its mid-size and larger SUVs.
    Joe D'Allegro, CNBC, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • This series feels a lot more important than a late-May series should feel.
    David O'Brien, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • Upon their introduction, Brailsford and Silverman felt a natural draw towards each other.
    Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 27 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Think.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/think. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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