I. ˈthiŋk verb
( thought ˈthȯt ; think·ing )
Etymology: Middle English thenken, from Old English thencan; akin to Old High German denken to think, Latin tongēre to know — more at thanks
Date: before 12th century
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 think s to ask how we do
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 think s 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
think s of himself as a poet
4. : to have concern — usually used with of
a man must think first of his family
5. : to consider something likely : suspect
may happen sooner than you think
• think·er noun
•
- think better of
- think much of
Synonyms:
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
Synonyms:
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
II. noun
Date: 1834
: an act of thinking
has another think coming
III. adjective
Date: 1892
: relating to, requiring, or stimulating thinking