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.
It has gotten me thinking I’d like to visit every state and meet the people and have a meal and see what they’re like and see the landscape.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026
If you anticipate that unequal inheritances could surprise family members, consider leaving a short letter of wishes explaining your thinking.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 2, 2026
Those discussions build on earlier thinking inside the company about Earthbound systems it could pair with satellites to go after the mobile market.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026
Just as special as the loan of the paper itself is the way visitors have enjoyed thinking about what they would put in a declaration of their own, says museum director Lucy Littlewood.
From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026
I’m thinking about how we laughed on the train.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
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.
