Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense thinks, present participle thinking, past tense, past participle thought
1. verb [no cont]
If you think that something is the case, you have the opinion that it is the case.
I certainly think there should be a ban on tobacco advertising. [VERB that]
Do you think I ought to seal the boxes up? [VERB that]
A generation ago, it was thought that babies born this small could not survive. [beVERB-ed that]
Tell me, what do you think of my theory? [V + of/about]
Peter is useless, far worse than I thought. [VERB]
He manages a good deal better than I thought possible. [VERB adjective]
'It ought to be stopped.'—'Yes, I think so.' [Vso]
[Also VERB noun to-infinitive]
Synonyms: believe, hold that, be of the opinion, conclude More Synonyms of think
2. verb [no cont]
If you say that you think that something is true or will happen, you mean that you have the impression that it is true or will happen, although you are not certain of the facts.
Nora thought he was seventeen years old. [VERB that]
Do you think she was embarrassed about it? [VERB that]
She's in Napa, I think. [VERB that]
The storm is thought to be responsible for as many as four deaths. [beVERB-ed to-infinitive]
'Did Mr Stevens ever mention her to you?'—'No, I don't think so.' [Vso]
Synonyms: judge, consider, estimate, reckon More Synonyms of think
3. verb [no cont, no passive]
If you think in a particular way, you have those general opinions or attitudes.
You were probably brought up to think like that. [V + like]
He can silence the demonstrators and others who think like them. [Vlike n]
If you think as I do, vote as I do. [V + as/like]
I don't blame you for thinking that way. [VERB noun]
4. verb
When you think about ideas or problems, you make a mental effort to consider them.
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to think. [VERB]
I have often thought about this problem. [VERB + about]
Think about how you can improve the situation instead of dwelling on the negativeaspects. [Vabout n/wh]
Let's think what we can do. [VERB wh]
We had to think what to do next. [V wh-to-inf]
Synonyms: ponder, reflect, contemplate, deliberate More Synonyms of think
Think is also a noun.
[mainly British]
I'll have a think about that. [+ about]
5. verb [no passive]
If you think in a particular way, you consider things, solve problems, or make decisions in this way, for example because of your job or your background.
To make the computer work at full capacity, the programmer has to think like themachine. [VERB preposition]
I meet many businessmen, and I see they think in terms of the overall picture. [VERB preposition]
The referee has to think the way the players do. [VERB noun]
6. verb [no cont]
If you thinkof something, it comes into your mind or you remember it.
Nobody could think of anything to say. [VERB + of]
I can't think of any reason why he should do that. [VERBof noun]
I just can't think of his name. [VERBof noun]
I was trying to think what else we had to do. [VERB wh]
Synonyms: remember, recall, recollect, review More Synonyms of think
7. verb
If you think of an idea, you make a mental effort and use your imagination and intelligence to create it or develop it.
He thought of another way of getting out of the agreement. [VERB + of]
I don't know why I never thought of that. [VERBof noun]
8. verb [no passive]
If you are thinking something at a particular moment, you have words or ideas in your mind without saying them out loud.
She must be ill, Tatiana thought. [VERB with quote]
I remember thinking how lovely he looked. [VERB wh]
I'm trying to think positive thoughts. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB that]
9. verb [no cont]
If you think of someone or something as having a particular quality or purpose, you regard them ashaving this quality or purpose.
We all thought of him as a father. [VERB + of]
He thinks of it as his home. [Vof n as n/-ing]
In China bats are thought of as being very lucky. [Vof n as n/-ing]
Nobody had thought him capable of that kind of thing. [VERB noun adjective]
10. verb [no cont]
If you think a lot of someone or something, you admire them very much or think they are very good.
To tell the truth, I don't think much of psychiatrists. [V amount + of]
The Director thought a good deal of him. [V amount of n]
People at the club think very highly of him. [V adv + of]
He seemed to be a good man, well thought of by all. [V adv of n]
11. verb
If you thinkof someone, you show consideration for them and pay attention to their needs.
I'm only thinking of you. [VERB + of]
You never think of anyone but yourself. [VERBof noun]
We have the interest of 500,000 customers to think of. [VERBof noun]
You don't have to think about me and Hugh. [VERB + about]
12. verb
If you are thinking of taking a particular course of action, you are considering it as a possible course of action.
Martin was thinking of taking legal action against Zuckerman. [VERB + of]
Have you ever thought of marrying? [Vof -ing/n]
It would be unwise for the government to think of privatisation as a means of savingmoney. [Vof -ing/n]
Synonyms: consider, contemplate, think about, weigh up More Synonyms of think
13. verb [usually cont]
You can say that you are thinking of a particular aspect or subject, in order to introduce an example or explain more exactly what you are talking about.
I'm primarily thinking of the first year. [VERB + of]
There is a theme of tragedy that runs through it: I'm thinking in particular of thestory of Tom Howard. [VERBof noun]
14. verb [only interrogative]
You use think in questions where you are expressing your anger or shock at someone's behaviour.
[disapproval]
Who does she think she is? Trying to make a fool of me like that. [VERB that]
You can't do this! What do you think you're doing? [VERB that]
What were you thinking of? You shouldn't steal. [VERB + of]
15. verb [no cont, no passive]
You use think when you are commenting on something which you did or experienced in the past and which now seems surprising, foolish, or shocking to you.
To think I left you alone in a place with a madman at large! [VERB that]
When I think of how you've behaved and the trouble you've got into! [VERB + of]
16. verb [no cont]
You can use think in expressions such as you would think or I would have thought when you are criticizing someone because they ought to or could be expected to do something, but have notdone it.
[disapproval]
You'd think you'd remember to wash your ears. [VERB that]
We would have thought he would have a more responsible attitude. [VERB that]
'Surely to God she should have been given some proper help.'—'Well I would have thoughtso.' [Vso]
[Also VERB]
17. verb [no cont]
You can use think in expressions such as anyone would think and you would think to express your surprise or disapproval at the way someone is behaving.
Anyone would think you were in love with the girl. [VERB that]
You'd think you had never seen a door before! [VERB that]
18. See also thinking, thought
19.
See come to think of it/when you think about it
20.
See I think
21.
See I think
22.
See just think
23.
See think again
24.
See to think nothing of
25.
See think nothing of it
26. you can't hear yourself think
27. to shudder to think
28. to think better of it
29. to think big
30. to think twice
31. to think the world of someone
Phrasal verbs:
See think back
See think out
See think over
See think through
See think up
More Synonyms of think
think in British English
(θɪŋk)
verbWord forms: thinks, thinking or thought
1. (tr; may take a clause as object)
to consider, judge, or believe
he thinks my ideas impractical
2. (intransitive; often foll byabout)
to exercise the mind as in order to make a decision; ponder
3. (intransitive)
to be capable of conscious thought
man is the only animal that thinks
4.
to remember; recollect
I can't think what his name is
5. (intransitive; foll byof)
to make the mental choice (of)
think of a number
6. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive)
a.
to expect; suppose
I didn't think to see you here
b.
to be considerate or aware enough (to do something)
he did not think to thank them
7. (intransitive; foll byof)
to consider; regard
she thinks of herself as a poet
8. (intransitive)
to focus the attention on being
think thin
think big
9. (transitive)
to bring into or out of a specified condition by thinking
to think away one's fears
10. I don't think
11. think again
12. think better of
13. think much of
14. think nothing of
15. think twice
noun
16. informal
a careful, open-minded assessment
let's have a fresh think about this problem
17. (modifier) informal
characterized by or involving thinkers, thinking, or thought
a think session
18. you've got another think coming
Derived forms
thinker (ˈthinker)
noun
Word origin
Old English thencan; related to Old Frisian thenza, Old Saxon thenkian, Old High German denken, Old Norse thekkja, Gothic thagkjan
think in American English1
(θɪŋk)
verb transitiveWord forms: thought or ˈthinking
1.
to form or have in the mind; conceive
thinking good thoughts
2.
to hold in one's opinion; judge; consider
many think her charming
3.
to believe; surmise; expect
they think they can come
4.
to determine, resolve, work out, etc. by reasoning
think what your next move should be
5. Rare
to purpose; intend
thinking to do right
6.
a.
to bring to mind; form an idea of
think what the future holds
b.
to recall; recollect
think what joy was ours
7.
to have the mind turned steadily toward; have constantly in mind
think success
verb intransitive
8.
to use the mind for arriving at conclusions, making decisions, drawing inferences, etc.; reflect; reason
learn to think
9.
to have an opinion, belief, expectation, etc.
I just think so
10.
to weigh something mentally; reflect
think before you act
11.
to call to mind; recall; remember
with of or about
12.
to have an opinion, judgment, etc.
with of or about
13.
to allow oneself to consider
with of or about
14.
to have regard for; consider the welfare of
with of or about
15.
to discover or invent; conceive (of)
noun
16. Informal
the act of thinking
give it a good think
adjective
17. Slang
having to do with thinking
Idioms:
think (all) the world of
think better of
think fit
think little of
think nothing of it!
think on (or upon)
think out
think out loud
think over
think through
think twice
think up
SYNONYMY NOTE: think1 is the general word meaning to exercise the mental faculties so as to form ideas,arrive at conclusions, etc. [learn to think clearly]; reason implies a logical sequence of thought, starting with what is known or assumed andadvancing to a definite conclusion through the inferences drawn [he reasoned that she would accept]; cogitate is used, sometimes humorously, of a person who is, or appears to be, thinking hard[I was cogitating, not daydreaming]; reflect implies a turning of one's thoughts on or back on a subject and connotes deep orquiet continued thought [he reflected on the day's events]; speculate implies a reasoning on the basis of incomplete or uncertain evidence and thereforestresses the conjectural character of the opinions formed [to speculate on the possibility of life on Mars]; deliberate implies careful and thorough consideration of a matter in order to arrive at a conclusion[the jury deliberated on the case]
Derived forms
thinker (ˈthinker)
noun
Word origin
< ME thenchen, to think, confused with thinchen, to seem < OE thencan < PGmc *thankjan, to think: for IE base see thank
think in American English2
(θɪŋk)
verb impersonalWord forms: thought
to seem
obs., except in archaic methinks, methought
Word origin
< ME thinchen, to seem, confused with thenchen, to think: see think1
-think in American English
(thɪŋk)
a pattern or manner of thinking
groupthink
More idioms containing
think
think on your feet
think outside the box
think the world of someone
Examples of 'think' in a sentence
think
We have to think about the issues that result from that.
Computing (2010)
Time to light the pipe and have a good hard think.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Will he be able to think of another name as exciting as those two?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Who in business would think that makes sense?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Do you think their discipline let them down?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
People in the know think something else might be up.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The players and the fans at the stadium think the same way.
The Sun (2016)
The officer said that she would advise other women to think carefully before considering a career within the union.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We tried to think Britain was just an aberration.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I don't have time to think any negative thoughts.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We pretty much agree about what we think is funny.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Our job is to get the players we think are good for us.
The Sun (2015)
If you come to a team like this and think of another game it would be strange.
The Sun (2013)
Just think of his chicken brick and his pasta bowls.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Where do you think investors will make the most money?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Light a candle and try to think pure thoughts.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You shall let me think of you as happy.
George Eliot Daniel Deronda (1876)
Instead people think there was something in it.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You have to think your way through the game.
The Sun (2012)
We may begin with some examples of actions that depend on particular ways of thinking.
Hindess, Barry Choice, Rationality, and Social Theory (1988)
You do think more carefully about spending when you see it diminishing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He probably thought the only alternative was to cry.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We all need to think about what that really means.
The Sun (2014)
If he comes back stronger it is scary to think how good he is going to be.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Another thing to think about is the artificial light you will use.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
That would make them think twice about parking illegally.
The Sun (2008)
What makes him think they would let him in?
The Sun (2010)
He thought of something and decided not to say it.
Oxenhorn, Harvey Tuning the Rig: A Journey to the Arctic (1990)
They think the only way to play badly is to provoke you.
The Sun (2012)
But he knows there are also those who think this particular dog has had his day.
The Sun (2010)
When you are booking a removal van think carefully about what day you want to move.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She says she had to think about each one long and hard.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
If they think you are just there as a spy, getting their trust is very difficult.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
When you wake up and are always happy and think positive thoughts, you have already won.
The Sun (2015)
They probably thought it wasn't worth the bother.
The Sun (2012)
Quotations
I think, therefore I amRené DescartesLe Discours de la Méthode
In other languages
think
British English: think /θɪŋk/ VERB
believe If you think something, you believe that it is true.
I think it's a great idea.
What do you think of my theory?
American English: think
Arabic: يَفْكِرُ
Brazilian Portuguese: pensar
Chinese: 思考
Croatian: misliti
Czech: myslet si
Danish: tænke
Dutch: denken
European Spanish: pensar
Finnish: ajatella
French: penser
German: denken
Greek: νομίζω
Italian: pensare
Japanese: 考える
Korean: 생각하다
Norwegian: tenke
Polish: pomyśleć
European Portuguese: pensar
Romanian: a fi de părere
Russian: думать
Latin American Spanish: pensar
Swedish: tänka
Thai: คิด
Turkish: düşünmek
Ukrainian: вважати
Vietnamese: nghĩ
British English: think /θɪŋk/ VERB
use your mind When you think, you use your mind.
I tried to think what to do.
American English: think
Arabic: يُفَكِّرُ في
Brazilian Portuguese: pensar
Chinese: 思考
Croatian: misliti
Czech: přemýšlet
Danish: tænke på
Dutch: denken
European Spanish: pensar
Finnish: ajatella
French: penser
German: denken
Greek: σκέφτομαι
Italian: pensare
Japanese: 考える
Korean: 생각하다
Norwegian: tenke
Polish: myśleć
European Portuguese: pensar
Romanian: a gândi
Russian: думать
Latin American Spanish: pensar
Swedish: tänka
Thai: คิดพิจารณา
Turkish: düşünmek
Ukrainian: думати
Vietnamese: suy nghĩ
All related terms of 'think'
I think
You use ' I think ' as a way of being polite when you are explaining or suggesting to someone what you want to do, or when you are accepting or refusing an offer .
think fit
to regard as proper or appropriate
think out
If you think something out , you consider all the aspects and details of it before doing anything or making a decision .
think up
If you think something up , for example an idea or plan , you invent it using mental effort .
just think
You say just think when you feel excited , fascinated , or shocked by something, and you want the person to whom you are talking to feel the same.
think again
If you think again about an action or decision, you consider it very carefully, often with the result that you change your mind and decide to do things differently.
think aloud
If you think aloud , you express your thoughts as they occur to you, rather than thinking first and then speaking .
think back
If you think back , you make an effort to remember things that happened to you in the past .
think over
If you think something over , you consider it carefully before making a decision .
think piece
A think piece is an article in a newspaper or magazine that discusses a particular subject in a serious and thoughtful way .
think tank
A think-tank is a group of experts who are gathered together by an organization, especially by a government, in order to consider various problems and try and work out ways to solve them.
think twice
to consider carefully before deciding (about something)
double-think
illogical or deliberately perverse thinking in terms that distort or reverse the truth to make it more acceptable
think through
If you think a situation through , you consider it thoroughly, together with all its possible effects or consequences .
to think big
If you think big , you make plans on a large scale , often using a lot of time, effort , or money .
dread to think
If you say that you dread to think what might happen , you mean that you are anxious about it because it is likely to be very unpleasant .
I don't think
a phrase added to an ironical statement
think less of
to have a lower opinion of
think more of
to have a higher opinion of
think much of
to have a high opinion of
think out loud
to speak one's thoughts as they occur
to think twice
If you think twice about doing something, you consider it again and decide not to do it, or decide to do it differently.
think better of
to change one's course of action after reconsideration
think little of
to have a low opinion of
think nothing of
to regard as routine , easy , or natural
think you're it
If you say that someone thinks they're it , you mean that they think they are better or more important than they really are.
think in terms of
If you say that you are thinking in terms of doing a particular thing, you mean that you are considering it.
think on (or upon)
to give thought or consideration to
think on your feet
to make good decisions and achieve things without having to think about them or plan them first
think the world of
to be extremely fond of or hold in very high esteem
come to think of it
You use the expression come to think of it to indicate that you have suddenly realized something, often something obvious .
think nothing of it
If something happens and you think nothing of it , you do not pay much attention to it or think of it as strange or important , although later you realize that it is.
think outside the box
to think about something in a way that is new or different and shows imagination , especially in business
to shudder to think
If you say that you shudder to think what would happen in a particular situation, you mean that you expect it to be so bad that you do not really want to think about it.
to think nothing of
If you think nothing of doing something that other people might consider difficult , strange , or wrong , you consider it to be easy or normal , and you do it often or would be quite willing to do it.
to think better of it
If you intend to do something and then think better of it , you decide not to do it because you realize it would not be sensible .
think (all) the world of
to admire or love greatly
think the world of someone
to like and admire someone very much or be very fond of them
you can't hear yourself think
If you say that you can't hear yourself think , you are complaining and emphasizing that there is a lot of noise , and that it is disturbing you or preventing you from doing something.
to think the world of someone
If you think the world of someone, you like them or care about them very much.
you've got another think coming
you are mistaken and will soon have to alter your opinion
come to think of it/when you think about it
You use expressions such as come to think of it , when you think about it , or thinking about it , when you mention something that you have suddenly remembered or realized .
Chinese translation of 'think'
think
(θɪŋk)
Word forms:ptppthought
vi
(= reflect) 思考 (sīkǎo)
⇒ He thought for a moment, but said nothing.他思考了一会儿，没说什么。 (Tā sīkǎole yīhuìr, méi shuō shénme.)
(= reason) 想 (xiǎng)
⇒ People didn't think this way 20 years ago.人们20年前不这么想。 (Rénmen èrshí nián qián bù zhème xiǎng.)
vt
(= be of the opinion, believe) 认(認)为(為) (rènwéi)
(= believe) 以为(為) (yǐwéi)
⇒ How old do you think I am?你以为我多大？ (Nǐ yǐwéi wǒ duō dà?)
(= reflect) 想 (xiǎng)
⇒ "What are you thinking?" — "I am thinking how lovely you look.""你在想什么？" "我在想你是多么好看。" ("Nǐ zài xiǎng shénme? " "Wǒ zài xiǎng nǐ shì duōme hǎokàn.")
(= conceive, imagine) 想出 (xiǎngchū)
n
to have a think about sth考虑(慮)某事 (kǎolǜ mǒushì)
to think of (= reflect upon) 想着(著) (xiǎngzhe) (= recall) 记(記)起 (jìqǐ) (= show consideration for) 考虑(慮) (kǎolǜ) (= conceive of) 想到 (xiǎngdào)
what do you think of ... ?你认(認)为(為) ... 怎么(麼)样(樣)? (nǐ rènwéi ... zěnmeyàng?)
to think about sth/sb想着(著)某事物/某人 (xiǎngzhe mǒu shìwù/mǒurén)
I'll think about it我要考虑(慮)一下 (wǒ yào kǎolǜ yīxià)
to think of doing sth考虑(慮)做某事 (kǎolǜ zuò mǒushì)
to think highly of sb看重某人 (kànzhòng mǒurén)
to think nothing of doing sth认(認)为(為)做某事没(沒)什么(麼)了不起 (rènwéi zuò mǒushì méishénme liǎobuqǐ)
to think aloud自言自语(語) (zì yán zì yǔ)
think again!别(別)想! (bié xiǎng!)
he is thought to have survived人们(們)认(認)为(為)他活了下来(來) (rénmen rènwéi tā huóle xiàlái)
I think so/not我想是/不是的 (wǒ xiǎng shì/bùshì de)
All related terms of 'think'
think up
( plan, scheme, excuse ) 想出 xiǎngchū
think back
▶ to think back (to sth) 回想起(某事) huíxiǎngqǐ (mǒushì)
think over
( offer, suggestion ) 仔细(細)考虑(慮) zǐxì kǎolǜ
think again!
别(別)想! bié xiǎng!
think through
全面考虑(慮) quánmiàn kǎolǜ
to think of
( reflect upon ) 想着(著) xiǎngzhe
to think aloud
自言自语(語) zì yán zì yǔ
I hope/think so
我希望/认(認)为(為)如此 wǒ xīwàng/rènwéi rúcǐ
I think so/not
我想是/不是的 wǒ xiǎng shì/bùshì de
I'll think about it
我要考虑(慮)一下 wǒ yào kǎolǜ yīxià
to think/plan ahead
事先考虑(慮)/计(計)划(劃) shìxiān kǎolǜ/jìhuà
what do you think?
你怎么(麼)想？ nǐ zěnme xiǎng?
come to think of it
再想想 zài xiǎngxiǎng ⇒ You know, when you come to think of it, this is very odd. → 再想想的话，这是很奇怪的。 Zài xiǎngxiǎng de huà, zhè shì hěn qíguài de.