thinking
Americanadjective
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rational; reasoning.
People are thinking animals.
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thoughtful; reflective.
Any thinking person would reject that plan.
noun
noun
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opinion or judgment
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the process of thought
adjective
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(prenominal) using or capable of using intelligent thought
thinking people
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to ponder a matter or problem
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of thinking
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English thenking (noun); see think 1, -ing 2, -ing 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Thinking there had been a mistake, Machado texted a top State Department official seeking an explanation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026
Each chapter ventures a little deeper into Anxietyland, where the harrowing attractions include the Emotional Rollercoaster, the Worry-Go-Round, the Magical Thinking Show and Hangxiety Falls.
From Salon • Jun. 27, 2026
Thinking about that really, really influenced my approach to these pieces in terms of trying to collapse in each piece the timescales of historical influences and contemporary identity, but also the locality.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026
"Thinking back on it, I still have goosebumps," he said.
From Barron's • May 28, 2026
Thinking of food makes me realize I’m ready for lunch, but we enter the mosque to pray.
From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
