think

¹

[ thingk ]

verb (used without object)

, thought, think·ing.

1. to have a conscious mind, to some extent of reasoning, remembering experiences, making rational decisions, etc.
2. to employ one's mind rationally and objectively in evaluating or dealing with a given situation:

   Think carefully before you begin.

3. to have a certain thing as the subject of one's thoughts:

   I was thinking about you. We could think of nothing else.

4. to call something to one's conscious mind:

   I couldn't think of his phone number.

5. to consider something as a possible action, choice, etc.:

   She thought about cutting her hair.

6. to invent or conceive of something:

   We thought of a new plan.

7. to have consideration or regard for someone:

   Think of others first.

8. to esteem a person or thing as indicated:

   to think badly of someone.

9. to have a belief or opinion as indicated:

   I think so.

10. (of a device or machine, especially a computer) to use artificial intelligence to perform an activity analogous to human thought.

verb (used with object)

, thought, think·ing.

1. to have or form in the mind as an idea, conception, etc.
2. to have or form in the mind in order to understand, know, or remember something else:

   Romantic comedy is all about chemistry: think Tracy and Hepburn. Can't guess? Here's a hint: think 19th century.

3. to consider for evaluation or for possible action upon:

   Think the deal over.

4. to regard as specified:

   He thought me unkind.

5. to believe to be true of someone or something:

   to think evil of the neighbors.

6. to analyze or evolve rationally:

   to think the problem out.

7. to have as a plan or intention:

   I thought that I would go.

8. to anticipate or expect:

   I did not think to find you here.

adjective

1. of or relating to thinking or thought.
2. Informal. stimulating or challenging to the intellect or mind: Compare think piece.

   the think book of the year.

noun

1. Informal. the act or a period of thinking:

   I want to sit down and give it a good think.

verb phrase

1. 1. to conceive of; imagine.
   2. to have an opinion or judgment of.
   3. to consider; anticipate:

      When one thinks of what the future may bring, one is both worried and hopeful.

2. 1. to think about until a conclusion is reached; understand or solve by thinking.
   2. to devise by thinking; contrive:

      He thought out a plan for saving time.

3. to devise or contrive by thinking:

   Can you think up an arrangement of furniture for this room?

think

²

[ thingk ]

verb (used without object)

, Obsolete.

, thought, think·ing.

1. to seem or appear (usually used impersonally with a dative as the subject).

think

/ θɪŋk /

verb

1. tr; may take a clause as object to consider, judge, or believe

   he thinks my ideas impractical

2. introften foll byabout to exercise the mind as in order to make a decision; ponder
3. intr to be capable of conscious thought

   man is the only animal that thinks

4. to remember; recollect

   I can't think what his name is

5. intrfoll byof to make the mental choice (of)

   think of a number

6. may take a clause as object or an infinitive
   1. to expect; suppose

      I didn't think to see you here

   2. to be considerate or aware enough (to do something)

      he did not think to thank them

7. intrfoll byof to consider; regard

   she thinks of herself as a poet

8. intr to focus the attention on being

   think thin

   think big

9. tr to bring into or out of a specified condition by thinking

   to think away one's fears

10. I don't think slang.
    a phrase added to an ironical statement

    you're the paragon of virtue, I don't think

11. think again
    to reconsider one's decision, opinion, etc
12. think better of
    1. to change one's mind about (a course of action, decision, etc)
    2. to have a more favourable opinion of (a person)
13. think much of
    usually negative to have a high opinion of
14. think nothing of
    1. to regard as routine, easy, or natural
    2. to have no compunction or hesitation about
    3. to have a very low opinion of
15. think twice
    to consider carefully before deciding (about something)

noun

1. informal.
   a careful, open-minded assessment

   let's have a fresh think about this problem

2. informal.
   modifier characterized by or involving thinkers, thinking, or thought

   a think session

3. you've got another think coming slang.
   you are mistaken and will soon have to alter your opinion

Derived Forms

• ˈthinker, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of think¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English thinken, variant of thenken, Old English thencan; cognate with Dutch, German denken, Old Norse thekkja, Gothic thagkjan; akin to Latin tongēre “to know” and thank

Origin of think²

First recorded before 900; Middle English thinken “to present the appearance of, seem,” Old English thyncan “to seem”; cognate with Dutch dunken, German dünken, Old Norse thykkja, Gothic thugkjan

Word History and Origins

Origin of think¹

Old English thencan; related to Old Frisian thenza, Old Saxon thenkian, Old High German denken, Old Norse thekkja, Gothic thagkjan

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. think better of, to change one's mind about; reconsider:

   She considered emigrating to Australia, but thought better of it.

2. think fit, to consider advisable or appropriate:

   By all means, take a vacation if you think fit.

3. think twice, to weigh carefully before acting; consider:

   I would think twice before taking on such a responsibility.

4. think nothing of. nothing ( def 19 ).

More idioms and phrases containing think

• come to think of it
• have another guess (think) coming
• hear oneself think
• not think much of
• put on one's thinking cap
• wishful thinking
• thought

Example Sentences

But Ma and his colleagues no longer think this is the case.

From Science Daily

“If I could ever sell out a comedy club one time ever, that’s the epitome of what I think a comedian probably could be,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

“And I thought he had the coolest shirts I’d ever seen in my life.”

From Los Angeles Times

While there's a lot of anticipation around what the impact of tariffs will be, some experts think the actual implementation of tariffs will be narrower than the broad-based ones Trump suggested on the campaign trail.

From Salon

“It shows these carbon-fluorine bonds are not as inert as we thought.”

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• assume
• consider
• determine
• expect
• feel
• guess
• judge
• realize
• see
• take
• understand