think
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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to have a conscious mind, to some extent of reasoning, remembering experiences, making rational decisions, etc.
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to employ one's mind rationally and objectively in evaluating or dealing with a given situation.
Think carefully before you begin.
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to have a certain thing as the subject of one's thoughts.
I was thinking about you. We could think of nothing else.
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to call something to one's conscious mind.
I couldn't think of his phone number.
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to consider something as a possible action, choice, etc..
She thought about cutting her hair.
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to invent or conceive of something.
We thought of a new plan.
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to have consideration or regard for someone.
Think of others first.
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to esteem a person or thing as indicated.
to think badly of someone.
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to have a belief or opinion as indicated.
I think so.
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(of a device or machine, especially a computer) to use artificial intelligence to perform an activity analogous to human thought.
verb (used with object)
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to have or form in the mind as an idea, conception, etc.
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to have or form in the mind in order to understand, know, or remember something else.
Romantic comedy is all about chemistry: think Tracy and Hepburn. Can't guess? Here's a hint: think 19th century.
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to consider for evaluation or for possible action upon.
Think the deal over.
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to regard as specified.
He thought me unkind.
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to believe to be true of someone or something.
to think evil of the neighbors.
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to analyze or evolve rationally.
to think the problem out.
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to have as a plan or intention.
I thought that I would go.
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to anticipate or expect.
I did not think to find you here.
adjective
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of or relating to thinking or thought.
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Informal. stimulating or challenging to the intellect or mind.
the think book of the year.
noun
verb phrase
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think of
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to conceive of; imagine.
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to have an opinion or judgment of.
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to consider; anticipate.
When one thinks of what the future may bring, one is both worried and hopeful.
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think out / through
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to think about until a conclusion is reached; understand or solve by thinking.
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to devise by thinking; contrive.
He thought out a plan for saving time.
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think up to devise or contrive by thinking.
Can you think up an arrangement of furniture for this room?
idioms
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think twice, to weigh carefully before acting; consider.
I would think twice before taking on such a responsibility.
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think fit, to consider advisable or appropriate.
By all means, take a vacation if you think fit.
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think nothing of. nothing.
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think better of, to change one's mind about; reconsider.
She considered emigrating to Australia, but thought better of it.
verb (used without object)
verb
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(tr; may take a clause as object) to consider, judge, or believe
he thinks my ideas impractical
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to exercise the mind as in order to make a decision; ponder
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(intr) to be capable of conscious thought
man is the only animal that thinks
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to remember; recollect
I can't think what his name is
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to make the mental choice (of)
think of a number
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(may take a clause as object or an infinitive)
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to expect; suppose
I didn't think to see you here
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to be considerate or aware enough (to do something)
he did not think to thank them
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to consider; regard
she thinks of herself as a poet
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(intr) to focus the attention on being
think thin
think big
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(tr) to bring into or out of a specified condition by thinking
to think away one's fears
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slang a phrase added to an ironical statement
you're the paragon of virtue, I don't think
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to reconsider one's decision, opinion, etc
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to change one's mind about (a course of action, decision, etc)
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to have a more favourable opinion of (a person)
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(usually negative) to have a high opinion of
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to regard as routine, easy, or natural
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to have no compunction or hesitation about
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to have a very low opinion of
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to consider carefully before deciding (about something)
noun
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informal a careful, open-minded assessment
let's have a fresh think about this problem
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informal (modifier) characterized by or involving thinkers, thinking, or thought
a think session
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slang you are mistaken and will soon have to alter your opinion
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of think1
First recorded before 900; Middle English thinken, variant of thenken, Old English thencan; cognate with Dutch, German denken, Old Norse thekkja, Gothic thagkjan; akin to Latin tongēre “to know” and thank
Origin of think2
First recorded before 900; Middle English thinken “to present the appearance of, seem,” Old English thyncan “to seem”; cognate with Dutch dunken, German dünken, Old Norse thykkja, Gothic thugkjan
Explanation
To think is to have an idea, belief, or thought about something. If you think that your parents are unusually strict, it means that you believe that to be true. The verb think means to reason, consider, or mull over. If you think for a while before you decide whether or not to get in your friend's car, it means that you're contemplating the situation before you act. If you think that people shouldn't eat animals, it means that you hold that opinion. If you think up a new, delicious way to cook broccoli, it means that you've invented or conceived of a great cooking method.
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.
See Examples For:
And I suspect most of the people who have their money in it think that it is.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026
The kinds of small businesses and experiences that we cherished in the past are harder to find these days, and Wall Street Journal readers think something consequential has been lost.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
“These are the questions I think about when I focus on funneling my rage,” she continued.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
"I think you're going to start having Democrats announce exploratory committees next week or the next couple of weeks, probably after Thanksgiving", Messina told the BBC's Americast podcast.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
Whenever I think about my first kiss, my stomach does a flip.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
At first, still thinking of ourselves as making a magazine, we uploaded full “issues” of a dozen or so stories over the office modem on Friday nights.
From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2026
So he told his commander: “If you’re thinking about sending someone to replace me, don’t.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
“I saw what he was thinking because it’s going right in front of you and he’s thinking, ‘I’m going to scoop and score,’” coach Sean McVay said after the game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
Habitually, he reacts to players more than thinking about positions, as he is able to win the ball back more often than not from most players.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
Samson had planned the scheme, thinking that he could easily defeat his friend and make him go back home.
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
“What happened to you once you became aware of it? How did this start to inform the way you moved your body through the world, the way you thought about your own safety?”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
Our “magazine,” as we then thought of it, was Salon.com, an organization that has just announced its closure after more than three decades of publishing reporting, commentary, and criticism.
From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2026
In a recent Q&A on X, Holmes’s partner, Billy Evans, was asked what his first thought was after seeing the film.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Some of the universe's dead stars may be capable of growing far more massive than a famous limit in physics was thought to allow.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026
Not because I thought I would magically change; I already knew the secret.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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