thinking

[ thing-king ]

/ ˈθɪŋ kɪŋ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for thinking on Thesaurus.com

adjective

rational; reasoning: People are thinking animals.

thoughtful; reflective: Any thinking person would reject that plan.

noun

thought; judgment, reflection: clear thinking.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of thinking

1250–1300; Middle English thenking (noun). See think¹, -ing², -ing¹

OTHER WORDS FROM thinking

think·ing·ly, adverbnon·think·ing, adjective, noun

Words nearby thinking

think aloud, think back, think better of, think big, thinker, thinking, thinking cap, think little of, think nothing of, think on one's feet, think out

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use thinking in a sentence

The thinking was if kids can’t gather for academics, they can’t gather for athletics.
School Sports Became ‘Clubs’ Amid the Pandemic – Now Two Coaches Are Out|Ashly McGlone|September 17, 2020|Voice of San Diego
When kids give answers, they are encouraged to explain their thinking.
A secret of science: Mistakes boost understanding|Rachel Kehoe|September 10, 2020|Science News For Students
We use language as one of our major tools for thinking, and it may be that it just isn’t up to every task.
Talking Is Throwing Fictional Worlds at One Another - Issue 89: The Dark Side|Kevin Berger|September 9, 2020|Nautilus
I do a lot of my best thinking just by writing, and I’ve thought deeply about racism in this country, and the impact that it’s having on the country right now.
Levi Strauss’s Chip Bergh on why he’s taking his most direct stance yet against structural racism|Ellen McGirt|September 1, 2020|Fortune

It’s a safe bet most business leaders don’t stay up at night thinking of Socrates.
The business advice Socrates would give if he wrote a management book today|jakemeth|August 25, 2020|Fortune
While Huckabee is thinking about his run for president, I thought it was time to think about Huckabee.
The Devil in Mike Huckabee|Dean Obeidallah|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But the ads are not just intended to remind the Google-curious that Paul exists and is thinking about running for president.
Rand Paul’s Passive-Aggressive Trolling Campaign|Olivia Nuzzi|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It is hard to feel attached to where you are if you are always thinking of where you have been or where you are going.
Will Texas Stay Texan?|David Fontana|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Our quest for better leaders—“Change we can believe in”— is wishful thinking.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans|Philip K. Howard|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I was thinking about retiring from modeling, but spending that time with them rekindled that bug.
Porn Stars on the Year in Porn: Drone Erotica, Belle Knox, and Wild Sex|Aurora Snow|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I do not care very much how you censor or select the reading and talking and thinking of the schoolboy or schoolgirl.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
He, with others, thinking the miss-sahib had gone to church, was smoking the hookah of gossip in a neighboring compound.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
He desired his secretary to go to the devil, but, thinking better of it, he recalled him as he reached the door.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
But you are mistaken in thinking the force west consists of the entire Merrill Horse.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
Bernard sat thinking for a long time; at first with a good deal of mortification—at last with a good deal of bitterness.
Confidence|Henry James

British Dictionary definitions for thinking

thinking

/ (ˈθɪŋkɪŋ) /

noun

opinion or judgment

the process of thought

adjective

(prenominal) using or capable of using intelligent thoughtthinking people

put on one's thinking cap to ponder a matter or problem

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

thinking

Origin of thinking

OTHER WORDS FROM thinking

Words nearby thinking

Words related to thinking

How to use thinking in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for thinking