thinking

American  

[thing-king] / ˈθɪŋ kɪŋ /

adjective

1. rational; reasoning.

   People are thinking animals.

2. thoughtful; reflective.

   Any thinking person would reject that plan.

---

noun

1. thought; think; thought; judgment, reflection.

   clear thinking.

thinking British  

/ ˈθɪŋkɪŋ /

noun

1. opinion or judgment

2. the process of thought

---

adjective

1. (prenominal) using or capable of using intelligent thought

   thinking people

2. to ponder a matter or problem

Other Word Forms

• nonthinking adjective
• thinkingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of thinking

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English thenking (noun); think ¹, -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Franks, now aged 27, had more time on her hands and could not stop thinking about fulfilling one of her dreams.

From BBC

Boys who are held back, the thinking goes, will hit a growth spurt their second time through eighth grade and enter high school bigger, stronger, faster and more coordinated.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It opens the door to thinking about diabetes treatment in a fundamentally different way -- by recruiting red blood cells as glucose sinks."

From Science Daily

Another is thinking about leaving the Navy after almost a year away from her toddler daughter.

From The Wall Street Journal

When I see the six, because I’m quite close and familiar with their thinking, they’re not saying, we will form a club that is not open to others.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• idea
• judgment
• logic
• opinion
• reasoning
• understanding