thoughtfulness

[ thawt-fuhl-nis ]

noun

1. the characteristic or habit of anticipating and being attentive to the needs and interests of others:

   I was touched by the thoughtfulness of the busy waitress, who rushed to open the heavy door for me when I left.

2. the quality of showing careful, thorough reflection:

   The thoughtfulness of your interview questions really helped all the participants get to know the candidate.

3. a contemplative or meditative state or quality; pensiveness:

   He stood looking down at them in gloomy thoughtfulness.

4. the quality of being careful, heedful, or mindful (usually followed by of):

   Solving problems requires not just knowledge of advanced technology, but thoughtfulness of context and application.

Other Words From

• o·ver·thought·ful·ness noun
• un·thought·ful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of thoughtfulness¹

thoughtful ( def ) + -ness ( def )

Example Sentences

Seeing kids discuss school safety and other issues with such thoughtfulness is a reminder that it’s worthwhile for adults to listen to them.

From Los Angeles Times

The letter adds that the King and Queen have a "deep love and affection" for Australia and "your thoughtfulness in writing as you did is warmly appreciated".

From BBC

His even-keel nature, thoughtfulness and ability to draw on the expertise of others have allowed him to navigate Wigan to success.

From BBC

But through conventions and casual meetings with horror fans, he’s gained an appreciation for their devotion to the genre and the thoughtfulness of their questions about Kramer’s worldview.

From Los Angeles Times

“You need almost nothing, except a little bit of thoughtfulness.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• kindness