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
- 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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In order to AI-proof your career, apply to jobs where critical thinking and innovation are more important than technical skills.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026
He expresses frustration that after 1953, once Dulles was in the State Department, his thinking became “less interesting.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026
Did congressional leadership know?—there is one that won’t stop popping into my mind: What in the hell was he thinking?
From Slate • Apr. 15, 2026
Mental sharpness refers to how clear, focused, and efficient a person's thinking is at any given time.
From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026
Suddenly, Torak had the strangest sense that the cub knew what he was thinking.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
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.
