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definitions

thought

1
[thawt]
||
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noun

Origin of thought

1
before 900; Middle English thoght, Old English (ge)thōht; cognate with Dutch gedachte; akin to thank, think1

Synonyms for thought

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2. See idea. 3. reflection, cogitation.

thought

2
[thawt]

verb

simple past tense and past participle of think1.

think

1
[thingk]

verb (used without object), thought, think·ing.

to have a conscious mind, to some extent of reasoning, remembering experiences, making rational decisions, etc.
to employ one's mind rationally and objectively in evaluating or dealing with a given situation: Think carefully before you begin.
to have a certain thing as the subject of one's thoughts: I was thinking about you. We could think of nothing else.
to call something to one's conscious mind: I couldn't think of his phone number.
to consider something as a possible action, choice, etc.: She thought about cutting her hair.
to invent or conceive of something: We thought of a new plan.
to have consideration or regard for someone: Think of others first.
to esteem a person or thing as indicated: to think badly of someone.
to have a belief or opinion as indicated: I think so.
(of a device or machine, especially a computer) to use artificial intelligence to perform an activity analogous to human thought.

verb (used with object), thought, think·ing.

to have or form in the mind as an idea, conception, etc.
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.
to consider for evaluation or for possible action upon: Think the deal over.
to regard as specified: He thought me unkind.
to believe to be true of someone or something: to think evil of the neighbors.
to analyze or evolve rationally: to think the problem out.
to have as a plan or intention: I thought that I would go.
to anticipate or expect: I did not think to find you here.

adjective

of or relating to thinking or thought.
Informal. stimulating or challenging to the intellect or mind: the think book of the year.Compare think piece.

noun

Informal. the act or a period of thinking: I want to sit down and give it a good think.

Verb Phrases

think of,
  1. to conceive of; imagine.
  2. to have an opinion or judgment of.
  3. to consider; anticipate: When one thinks of what the future may bring, one is both worried and hopeful.
think out/through,
  1. to think about until a conclusion is reached; understand or solve by thinking.
  2. to devise by thinking; contrive: He thought out a plan for saving time.
think up, to devise or contrive by thinking: Can you think up an arrangement of furniture for this room?

Idioms

    think better of, to change one's mind about; reconsider: She considered emigrating to Australia, but thought better of it.
    think fit, to consider advisable or appropriate: By all means, take a vacation if you think fit.
    think nothing of. nothing(def 19).
    think twice, to weigh carefully before acting; consider: I would think twice before taking on such a responsibility.

Origin of think

1
before 900; Middle English thinken, variant of thenken, Old English thencan; cognate with Dutch, German denken, Old Norse thekkja, Gothic thagkjan; akin to thank

think

2
[thingk]

verb (used without object), thought, think·ing. Obsolete.

to seem or appear (usually used impersonally with a dative as the subject).
Compare methinks.

Origin of think

2
before 900; Middle English thinken, Old English thyncan; cognate with Dutch dunken, German dünken, Old Norse thykkja, Gothic thugkjan
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for thought

reflection, thinking, attention, understanding, logic, speculation, hope, prospect, image, worry, concern, knowledge, intention, assessment, conclusion, belief, expectation, plan, judgment, anxiety

Examples from the Web for thought

Contemporary Examples of thought

Historical Examples of thought

  • His long habit of thought concerning her enabled him to master this foolishness.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • Should you have thought she'd marry so soon after her divorce?

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • I've often thought I'd go into some of these big operations here.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • "I thought I would come and tell you," said Halbert, coloring a little.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

  • "I've got something to do pretty quick," thought Robert, with satisfaction.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

British Dictionary definitions for thought

thought

verb

the past tense and past participle of think

noun

the act or process of thinking; deliberation, meditation, or reflection
a concept, opinion, or idea
philosophical or intellectual ideas typical of a particular time or placeGerman thought in the 19th century
application of mental attention; considerationhe gave the matter some thought
purpose or intentionI have no thought of giving up
expectationno thought of reward
a small amount; trifleyou could be a thought more enthusiastic
kindness or regardhe has no thought for his widowed mother

Word Origin for thought

Old English thōht; related to Old Frisian thochta, Old Saxon, Old High German githācht

think

verb thinks, thinking or thought

(tr; may take a clause as object) to consider, judge, or believehe thinks my ideas impractical
(intr often foll by about) to exercise the mind as in order to make a decision; ponder
(intr) to be capable of conscious thoughtman is the only animal that thinks
to remember; recollectI can't think what his name is
(intr foll by of) to make the mental choice (of)think of a number
(may take a clause as object or an infinitive)
  1. to expect; supposeI didn't think to see you here
  2. to be considerate or aware enough (to do something)he did not think to thank them
(intr foll by of) to consider; regardshe thinks of herself as a poet
(intr) to focus the attention on beingthink thin; think big
(tr) to bring into or out of a specified condition by thinkingto think away one's fears
I don't think slang a phrase added to an ironical statementyou're the paragon of virtue, I don't think
think again to reconsider one's decision, opinion, etc
think better of
  1. to change one's mind about (a course of action, decision, etc)
  2. to have a more favourable opinion of (a person)
think much of (usually negative) to have a high opinion of
think nothing of
  1. to regard as routine, easy, or natural
  2. to have no compunction or hesitation about
  3. to have a very low opinion of
think twice to consider carefully before deciding (about something)

noun

informal a careful, open-minded assessmentlet's have a fresh think about this problem
(modifier) informal characterized by or involving thinkers, thinking, or thoughta think session
you've got another think coming slang you are mistaken and will soon have to alter your opinion
See also think out, think over, think up
Derived Formsthinker, noun

Word Origin for think

Old English thencan; related to Old Frisian thenza, Old Saxon thenkian, Old High German denken, Old Norse thekkja, Gothic thagkjan
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
Word Origin and History for thought
n.

Old English þoht, geþoht, from stem of þencan "to conceive of in the mind, consider" (see think). Cognate with the second element in German Gedächtnis "memory," Andacht "attention, devotion," Bedacht "consideration, deliberation." Second thought "later consideration" is recorded from 1640s. Thought-crime is from "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (1949); thought police is attested from 1946, originally in reference to pre-war Japanese Special Higher Police (Tokubetsu Koto Keisatsu).

think

v.

Old English þencan "conceive in the mind, think, consider, intend" (past tense þohte, p.p. geþoht), probably originally "cause to appear to oneself," from Proto-Germanic *thankjan (cf. Old Frisian thinka, Old Saxon thenkian, Old High German denchen, German denken, Old Norse þekkja, Gothic þagkjan); Old English þencan is the causative form of the distinct Old English verb þyncan "to seem or appear" (past tense þuhte, past participle geþuht), from Proto-Germanic *thunkjan (cf. German dünken, däuchte). Both are from PIE *tong- "to think, feel" which also is the root of thought and thank. The two meanings converged in Middle English and þyncan "to seem" was absorbed, except for archaic methinks "it seems to me." Jocular past participle thunk (not historical, but by analogy of drink, sink, etc.) is recorded from 1876.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
thought in Medicine

thought

[thôt]

n.

The act or the process of thinking; cogitation.
A product of thinking, such as an idea.
The faculty of thinking or reasoning.

think

[thĭngk]

v.

To exercise the power of reason, as by conceiving ideas, drawing inferences, and using judgment.
To weigh or consider an idea.
To bring a thought to mind by imagination or invention.
To recall a thought or an image to mind.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with thought

thought

see food for thought; lost in thought; on second thought; penny for your thoughts; perish the thought; train of thought. Also see under think.

think

In addition to the idioms beginning with think

  • think a lot of
  • think aloud
  • think back
  • think better of
  • think big
  • thinking cap
  • think little of
  • think nothing of
  • think on one's feet
  • think out
  • think over
  • think piece
  • think positive
  • think tank
  • think the world of
  • think through
  • think twice
  • think up

also see:

  • come to think of it
  • have another guess (think) coming
  • hear oneself think
  • not think much of
  • put on one's thinking cap
  • wishful thinking

Also see underthought.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.