I. think 1 S1 W1 /θɪŋk/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle thought /θɔːt $ θɒːt/)
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ think , ↑ rethink , ↑ thinker , ↑ thinking , the unthinkable; verb : ↑ think , ↑ rethink ; adjective : ↑ thinkable ≠ ↑ unthinkable , ↑ thinking ≠ ↑ unthinking ; adverb : ↑ unthinkingly ]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: thencan ]
1 . OPINION/BELIEF [transitive] to have a particular opinion or to believe that something is true
think (that)
I think that you’re being unfair.
I thought I heard something.
He didn’t think anyone would believe him.
Do you think I should call him?
For some reason, I keep thinking it’s Friday today.
The recession lasted longer than anyone thought it would.
Am I right in thinking that you have a brother?
I can’t help thinking that he’s made a mistake.
Do you honestly think I would do something so stupid?
what do you think of/about somebody/something? (=used to ask someone for their opinion)
What do you think of your new school?
think it necessary/possible/best etc (=believe it is necessary, possible etc)
I thought it best to call first.
I thought it appropriate to invite her to speak at the meeting.
We must start thinking in terms of reducing costs.
be thought to be (doing) something (=be believed to be (doing) something)
Fraud is thought to be costing software companies millions of dollars a year.
2 . USE YOUR MIND [intransitive and transitive] to use your mind to decide about something, form an opinion, imagine something etc:
She thought very carefully before answering.
Wait a minute – I’m thinking.
think about/of
She lay awake thinking about the money.
think what/how/when etc
I can’t think what else we could have done.
think (long and) hard (=think for a long time)
She thought very hard before deciding to leave her job.
Holmes sat thinking deeply (=thinking in a serious and careful way) .
I dread/shudder/hate to think (=I do not want to think about something because it will be unpleasant)
I dread to think how much this call is going to cost.
3 . HAVE AN IDEA [transitive] to have words or ideas in your mind without telling them to anyone:
‘How strange!’ he thought.
‘I don’t care!’ she thought to herself.
It was impossible to know what he was thinking.
think what/how/when etc
I was just thinking what a lovely time we had yesterday.
4 . REMEMBER [transitive] to remember something
think where/what etc
He was trying to think where he’d seen her before.
I couldn’t think where I’d left my keys.
5 . CONSIDER SOMEBODY/SOMETHING [intransitive and transitive] to consider that someone or something is a particular thing or has a particular quality
think of somebody/something as something
Peter had always thought of Kate as someone to be avoided.
I want you to think of this as your home.
think of yourself as something
I’ve always thought of myself as a sensible person.
think somebody (to be) something
My parents never thought me capable of doing a degree.
We have good reason to think kindly of (=consider in an approving way) a school that has provided all our children with an excellent education.
6 . think of/about doing something to consider the possibility of doing something:
I had never thought of becoming an actor.
We did think about moving to Tokyo.
Don’t even think about calling him (=used to tell someone strongly not to do something) .
7 . think twice to think very carefully before deciding to do something, because you know about the dangers or problems:
A visible alarm makes burglars think twice.
think twice about
A previous divorce can make you think twice about getting married again.
think twice before doing something/before you do something
I’d think twice before taking out such a large loan.
8 . think again to think carefully about a plan, decision, idea etc, especially with the result that you change your mind or do something differently:
If you think car crime can’t happen to you, think again.
think again about
Universities may be forced to think again about the courses they provide.
• • •
SPOKEN PHRASES
9 . I think used when you are saying that you believe something is true, although you are not sure:
Mary is in the garden, I think.
I don’t think Ray will mind.
‘Do you understand what I mean?’ ‘Yes, I think so.’
‘Haven’t we met before?’ 'I don’t think so.’
I thought he was honest, but I was wrong.
10 . I think I’ll ... used to say what you will probably do:
I think I’ll go to bed early tonight.
11 . I thought (that) used when you are politely suggesting something to do:
I thought we’d go swimming tomorrow.
I thought we could meet for lunch.
12 . I would think ( also I would have thought , I should think/I should have thought British English ) used when you are saying that you believe something is probably true:
We’ll need about 10 bottles of wine, I should think.
I would have thought it would be better to wait a while.
13 . you would have thought (that) ( also you would think (that) ) used to say that you expect something to be true, although it is not:
You would have thought the school would do more to help a child like Craig.
14 . do you think (that) ...?
a) used when you are asking someone politely to do something for you:
Do you think you could help me move these boxes?
b) used to ask someone’s opinion:
Do you think I need to bring a jacket?
15 . who/what etc do you think?
a) used to ask someone’s opinion:
Who do you think will win?
b) used when asking someone angrily about something:
Where do you think you’re going?
16 . I think not formal used to say that you strongly believe something is not true or that you disagree with someone:
This could be a coincidence, but I think not.
17 . (just) think used to ask someone to imagine or consider something:
Just think – we could be millionaires!
(just) think of
It would be lovely, but think of the expense!
just think what/how etc
Just think what could have happened.
18 . (now I) come to think of it used to mention something you have just realized or remembered:
‘Were there any letters for me?’ ‘Yes there were, come to think of it.’
19 . I wasn’t thinking ( also I didn’t think ) used as a way of saying you are sorry because you have upset someone:
Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I wasn’t thinking.
20 . to think (that) ...! used to show that you are very surprised about something:
To think we lived next door to him and never knew what he was doing!
21 . if you think ..., you’ve got another think coming! used to tell someone that if they think someone is going to do something, they are wrong:
If you think I’m going to wait for you, you’ve got another think coming!
22 . that’s what you/they etc think! used to say that you strongly disagree with someone
23 . who would have thought? used to say that something is very surprising:
Who would have thought she’d end up dancing for a living?
24 . I thought as much used to say that you are not surprised by something someone tells you:
‘Andy failed his driving test.’ ‘I thought as much when I saw his face.’
25 . I should have thought ... British English used as a polite or joking way of showing that you disagree with what someone has said or think it is silly:
‘Why isn’t it working?’ ‘I should have thought it was obvious.’
26 . think better of it to not do something that you had planned to do, because you realize that it is not a good idea:
He started to say something, then thought better of it.
27 . think nothing of doing something to think that a particular activity is normal or easy, even though other people think it is unusual or difficult:
He thinks nothing of staying up all night in casinos.
28 . think nothing of something to think that something is not important and then realize later that it is important:
I had a pain in my back but thought nothing of it at the time.
29 . not think to do something to not consider doing something, especially when you later wish you had done it:
I didn’t think to question the treatment I was given.
I never thought to ask him for his address.
30 . think for yourself to have ideas and thoughts of your own rather than believing what other people say:
Parents have to teach their children to think for themselves.
31 . think aloud ( also think out loud ) to say what you are thinking, without talking to anyone in particular:
Oh, sorry. I was thinking aloud.
32 . think straight [usually in negatives] to think clearly:
I’m so nervous I can’t think straight.
How can I think straight with you talking all the time?
33 . not think much of somebody/something to not like someone or something very much:
I didn’t think much of his new girlfriend.
34 . think highly of somebody/something ( also think a lot of somebody/something ) to admire or respect someone or something:
Your boss must think highly of you if she gives you so much responsibility.
35 . think the world of somebody informal to like or love someone very much:
The children think the world of her.
36 . think badly of somebody ( also think less of somebody ) formal to disapprove of someone or what they have done:
Please don’t think badly of me.
think badly of somebody for
Do you think less of me for agreeing to do it?
37 . think the best/worst of somebody to consider someone’s behaviour in a way that makes them seem as good as possible or as bad as possible:
He’s determined to think the worst of me.
38 . think big informal to plan to do things that are difficult, but will be very impressive, make a lot of profit etc:
The company is thinking big.
39 . think outside the box to think of new, different, or unusual ways of doing something, especially in business
40 . think positive/positively to believe that you are going to be successful or that good things are going to happen:
You have to think positive if you’re going to be successful in this game.
41 . think on your feet to think of ideas and make decisions very quickly:
In this job you need to be able to think on your feet.
42 . think to do something literary to try to do something:
They had thought to deceive me.
43 . anyone would think (that) used to say that someone behaves as if a particular thing were true, although it is not:
Anyone would think he owns the place, the way he talks!
⇨ can’t hear yourself think at ↑ hear (12)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ adverbs
▪ carefully
Think carefully about every spending decision you make.
▪ hard (=with a lot of mental effort)
I bet, if you think really hard, you can think of something to do.
▪ deeply
I should have thought more deeply before I agreed.
▪ seriously
I thought seriously about my doctor’s advice.
▪ clearly
She was simply too tired to think clearly.
■ phrases
▪ long and hard (=hard, for a long time, before making a decision)
I thought long and hard about taking the role.
▪ I dread/hate/shudder to think (=I do not want to think about something bad)
I dread to think what might have happened if we hadn’t found her.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ to have a particular opinion
▪ think :
I think you’re right.
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She didn’t think that the film was very good.
▪ believe to have an opinion that you are sure is right, especially about an important subject such as politics or religion:
The protestors believe that it is wrong to experiment on animals.
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Do you really believe that the only solution to violence is more violence?
▪ feel to have a particular opinion, especially one that is based on your feelings, not on facts:
She feels that there is no alternative.
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I just felt that it was the right thing to do.
▪ take the view that formal to have a particular opinion:
The court took the view that the company had acted unreasonably.
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The college takes the view that smoking in the workplace is a fire risk.
■ to think about something
▪ think to use your mind to decide about something, form an opinion, imagine something etc:
I’ve been thinking about what you said – maybe you’re right.
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I need some time to think.
▪ consider to think about something carefully before deciding what to do:
Have you considered working for a year before going to college?
▪ weigh ( also weigh up British English ) to carefully think about a plan or choice by comparing all the advantages and disadvantages involved:
You need to weigh up the pros and cons (=the advantages and disadvantages) , and decide which investment is the best one for you.
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The committee are still weighing the alternatives.
▪ give something some/a lot of thought to think carefully about something, before you make a final decision about it:
Why don’t you give it some thought and then get back to me?
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He had obviously given the matter a lot of thought.
▪ mull something over to think about a problem, plan etc before making a decision:
Can you give me a bit of time to mull it over?
▪ ponder to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about something, especially a problem or something complicated:
She is still pondering what to do.
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Officials are pondering ways to remove the oil from the beaches.
▪ contemplate to think about something you might do in the future:
Did you ever contemplate resigning?
▪ reflect formal to think carefully about something, especially something that happened in the past:
It was a good time to reflect upon the changes that had happened in my life.
■ to keep thinking about something
▪ brood to keep thinking for a long time about something that worries you or that makes you angry or upset:
There’s no point brooding over things you can’t change.
▪ dwell on something to spend too much time thinking about something sad or unpleasant:
I try to enjoy my life today and not dwell on the past.
think back phrasal verb
to think about things that happened in the past:
Thinking back, it amazes me how we survived on so little sleep.
think back to/over/on
He thought back to the day he’d first met Sophie.
think of somebody/something phrasal verb
1 . to produce an idea, name, suggestion etc by thinking:
They’re still trying to think of a name for the baby.
Can you think of any other way to do it?
2 . to remember something:
I can’t think of the name of the hotel we stayed in.
3 . to behave in a way that shows that you want to treat other people well:
It was very good of you to think of me.
He’s always thinking of other people.
4 . think only of yourself to only do things that are good for you and not think about what other people want – used to show disapproval:
She’s a spoiled child who thinks only of herself.
5 . be thinking of somebody used to say that you care about and feel sympathy for someone who is in a difficult situation:
Take care! I’ll be thinking of you.
think something ↔ out phrasal verb
to think about all the parts of something carefully before deciding or planning exactly what to do:
He went for a walk to think things out.
The proposal needs to be carefully thought out.
think out what/how/whether etc
She had thought out what she was going to say.
think something ↔ over phrasal verb
to consider something carefully before making a decision:
I’ve been thinking over your suggestion.
Why don’t you think it over and give me a call in a couple of days?
I want some more time to think things over.
think something ↔ through phrasal verb
to think carefully about the possible results of something:
The policy has not been thought through properly.
It’s my fault. I didn’t think it through.
I need time to think things through.
think through what/how
People need time to think through what the changes will mean for them.
think something ↔ up phrasal verb
to produce a new idea, name etc by thinking:
She was trying to think up an excuse.
Did you think that up yourself?
Who thinks up names for new products?
II. think 2 BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ think , ↑ rethink , ↑ thinker , ↑ thinking , the unthinkable; verb : ↑ think , ↑ rethink ; adjective : ↑ thinkable ≠ ↑ unthinkable , ↑ thinking ≠ ↑ unthinking ; adverb : ↑ unthinkingly ]
have a think British English to think about a problem or question:
I’ll have a think and let you know.