think

verb

/θɪŋk/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they think	/θɪŋk/ /θɪŋk/
he / she / it thinks	/θɪŋks/ /θɪŋks/
past simple thought	/θɔːt/ /θɔːt/
past participle thought	/θɔːt/ /θɔːt/
-ing form thinking	/ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/ /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

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have opinion/belief

[transitive, intransitive] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to have a particular idea or opinion about something/somebody; to believe something

think (that)… Do you really think (that) he'll win?
I thought I heard a scream.
I didn't think people were allowed to park here.
Am I right in thinking that you used to live here?
I think this is their house, but I'm not sure.
He ought to resign, I think.
That's my opinion, but you might think otherwise (= have a different opinion).
We'll need about 20 chairs, I should think.
I can't help thinking (that) things could have been different.
it is thought that… It was once thought that the sun travelled around the earth.
think something Well, I like it. What do you think?
think something about something What did you think about the idea?
think something of something What did you think of the film?
think so ‘Is he any good?’ ‘I don't think so.’
‘Will we make it in time?’ ‘I think so.’
think somebody/something + adj. I think it highly unlikely that I'll get the job.
She thought him kind and generous.
It was better than I thought possible.
think somebody/something + noun I thought it a good idea to go with him.
be thought to be somebody/something He's thought to be one of the richest men in Europe.
think of somebody/something as somebody/something I think of this place as my home.
She is thought of as a possible director.

Synonyms thinkthink

believe
feel
reckon
be under the impression

These words all mean to have an idea that something is true or possible or to have a particular opinion about somebody/something.

think
to have an idea that something is true or possible, although you are not completely certain; to have a particular opinion about somebody/something:
- Do you think (that) they’ll come?
- Well, I like it. What do you think?
believe
to have an idea that something is true or possible, although you are not completely certain; to have a particular opinion about somebody/something:
- Police believe (that) the man may be armed.

think or believe?When you are expressing an idea that you have or that somebody has of what is true or possible, believe is more formal than think. It is used especially for talking about ideas that other people have; think is used more often for talking about your own ideas: Police believe… • I think… When you are expressing an opinion, believe is stronger than think and is used especially for matters of principle; think is used more for practical matters or matters of personal taste.

feel
to have a particular opinion about something that has happened or about what you/somebody ought to do:
- We all felt (that) we were unlucky to lose.
reckon
(informal) to think that something is true or possible:
- I reckon (that) I’m going to get that job.
be under the impression that…
to have an idea that something is true:
- I was under the impression that the work had already been completed.

Patterns

to think/believe/feel/reckon/be under the impression that…
It is thought/believed/reckoned that…
to be thought/believed/felt/reckoned to be something
to think/believe/feel something about somebody/something
to sincerely/honestly/seriously/mistakenly think/believe/feel

Express Yourself Asking for somebody’s opinion and involving others in a conversationAsking for somebody’s opinion and involving others in a conversationIn a meeting or a discussion you may need to find out what other people think. In some exams, you have to show that you can control the conversation by asking for contributions from the examiner.

- I would say it’s OK in the city, but not in the country. What do you think?
- My feeling is that we could improve our performance. Do you agree with that?
- What would you say if we waited another month?
- What about you? Do you cycle?
- Which place do you think is more dangerous?
- The traffic’s going faster there, isn't it?/don't you think?
- Would you say that traffic's going faster there?
- So this would be a better option, right?
(North American English, informal)

Express Yourself SpeculatingSpeculatingIn some exams, you have to talk about what you can see in a picture and speculate about the situation or a wider issue prompted by the picture. These are ways of saying what you think might be the case:

- I think it's likely that these people know each other.
- I imagine she's his wife.
- They might/may/could be related.
(British English or formal, North American English)
- I would think/imagine/guess they've been waiting for some time.
(British English)
- I guess that the car has broken down.
(North American English)
- I think this has probably happened before.
- It looks to me as though the woman is very angry.
- Perhaps/Probably/Possibly/It may be that/Maybe there has been an accident.
(British English or formal, North American English)

Language Bank according toaccording toReporting someone’s opinion

- Photography is, according to Vidal, the art form of untalented people.
- For Vidal, photography is the art form of untalented people.
- His view is that photography is not art but merely the mechanical reproduction of images.
- Smith takes the view that photography is both an art and a science.
- In Brown’s view, photography should be treated as a legitimate art in its own right.
- James is of the opinion that a good painter can always be a good photographer if he or she so decides.
- Emerson believed that a photograph should only reflect what the human eye can see.

Language Bank opinionopinionGiving your personal opinion

- In my opinion, everyone should have some understanding of science.
- Everyone should, in my opinion, have some understanding of science.
- It seems to me that many people in this country have a poor understanding of science.
- This is, in my view, the result of a failure of the scientific community to get its message across.
- Another reason why so many people have such a poor understanding of science is, I believe, the lack of adequate funding for science in schools.
- Smith argues that science is separate from culture. My own view is that science belongs with literature, art, philosophy and religion as an integral part of our culture.
- In this writer’s opinion, the more the public know about science, the less they will fear and distrust it.

Grammar Point want / like / love / hate / thinkwant / like / love / hate / think

These verbs belong to a group known as stative verbs because they describe a state rather than an action (although think can describe either an action or a state). Stative verbs are not usually used in the progressive tenses. However, it is becoming more common for some stative verbs to be used with progressive tenses. Stative verbs such as want, like, love, hate and think are sometimes used in informal language to describe a state at a particular moment, or a state that continues for a period of time:
- Why are you wanting a new phone when your current one works perfectly well?
- What shall we do tonight? I’m thinking bowling.
- I’m loving the weather today!
Other stative verbs that can be used this way include prefer, remember, taste and understand

use mind

[intransitive, transitive] to use your mind to consider something, to form connected ideas, to try to solve problems, etc.

Are animals able to think?
Let me think (= give me time before I answer).
Stop and think for a moment before making any decisions.
I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking (= said when you have upset or offended somebody accidentally).
think about something I can't tell you now—I'll have to think about it.
The government needs to think carefully about the issues raised.
All he ever thinks about is money.
think what, how, etc… He was trying to think what to do.

Extra Examples

She had thought very deeply about this problem.
He seemed to have lost the ability to think rationally.
She thought long and hard before accepting his offer.
Think about what you are going to do next.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

carefully
deeply
hard
…

verb + think

dread to
hate to
shudder to
…

preposition

about
of

phrases

not think straight
think big

See full entry

[transitive] (usually used in the progressive tenses) to have ideas, words or images in your mind

think something You're very quiet. What are you thinking?
think what, how, etc… I was just thinking what a long way it is.
+ speech ‘I must be crazy,’ she thought.
‘What can I do now?’ he thought frantically.

imagine

[transitive, no passive, intransitive] to form an idea of something; to imagine something

think where, how, etc… We couldn't think where you'd gone.
Just think how nice it would be to see them again.
I hate to think what would have happened if we hadn't arrived.
think (that)… I like to think (that) he would help if I needed it.
I can’t think (that) he would be so stupid.
think (something) If I'm home late, my mother always thinks the worst.
Just think—we'll be lying on the beach this time tomorrow.
Try to think yourself into the role.

Synonyms imagineimagine

think
see
envisage
envision

These words all mean to form an idea in your mind of what somebody/something might be like.

imagine
to form an idea in your mind of what somebody/something might be like:
- The house was just as she had imagined it.
think
to imagine something that might happen or might have happened:
- We couldn’t think where you’d gone.
- Just think—this time tomorrow we’ll be lying on a beach.
see
to consider something as a future possibility; to imagine somebody as something:
- I can’t see her changing her mind.
- His colleagues see him as a future director.
envisage
(especially British English) to imagine what will happen in the future:
- I don’t envisage working with him again.
The usual word for this in American English is envision (see below).
envision
to imagine what a situation will be like in the future, especially a situation that you intend to work towards:
- They envision an equal society, free from poverty and disease.
Envision is used especially in business and political contexts. In North American English it is also used in the same way as envisage: I don’t envision working with him again.

Patterns

to imagine/see/envisage/envision somebody/something as something
to imagine/see/envisage/envision (somebody) doing something
to imagine/think/see/envisage/envision who/what/how…
to imagine/think/envisage/envision that…

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

suddenly

preposition

See full entry

expect

[transitive] to expect something

think (that)… I never thought (that) I’d see her again.
The job took longer than we thought.
You'd think she'd have been grateful for my help (= but she wasn't).
I never thought you would carry out your threat.
think to do something (formal) Who would have thought to find you here?

in a particular way

[intransitive, transitive] (informal) [no passive] to think in a particular way or on a particular subject

+ adj. Let's think positive.
You need to think big (= aim to achieve a lot).
think something If you want to make money, you've got to think money.

showing anger/surprise

[transitive] think (that)… used in questions to show that you are angry or surprised

What do you think you're doing?

being less definite/more polite

[transitive, intransitive] used to make something you say sound less definite or more polite

think (that)… I thought we could go out tonight.
Twenty guests are enough, I would have thought.
Do you think you could open the window?
think so ‘You've made a mistake.’ ‘I don't think so.’

intend

[transitive, intransitive] think (that…) to intend something; to have a plan about something

I think I'll go for a swim.
I'm thinking in terms of about 70 guests at the wedding.

remember

[transitive] to remember something; to have something come into your mind

think to do something I didn't think (= it did not occur to me) to tell her.
think where, what, etc… I can't think where I put the keys.

Word OriginOld English thencan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German denken.

Idioms

behave/act as if you own the place | think you own the place

(disapproving) to behave in a very confident way that annoys other people, for example by telling them what to do
- She was acting as if she owned the place.

come to think of it

used when you suddenly remember something or realize that it might be important
- Come to think of it, he did mention seeing you.

great minds think alike

(informal, humorous) used to say that you and another person must both be very clever because you have had the same idea or agree about somethingTopics Opinion and argumentc2

I don’t think so

(informal) used to say very strongly that you do not agree with something, or that something is not possible
- Me? Fail? I don't think so.
Topics Opinion and argumentc1

if/when you think about it

used to draw attention to a fact that is not obvious or has not previously been mentioned
- It was a difficult situation, when you think about it.

I/I’d like to think

used to say that you hope or believe that something is true
- I like to think I'm broad-minded.
- I’d like to think that you were helping me because you wanted to, not because you felt you had to.

I thought as much

that is what I expected or suspected
- ‘He said he'd forgotten.’ ‘I thought as much.’

let me see/think | let's see

used when you are thinking or trying to remember something
- Now let me see—where did he say he lived?

see/think fit (to do something)

(formal) to consider it right or acceptable to do something; to decide or choose to do something
- You must do as you think fit (= but I don't agree with your decision).
- The newspaper did not see fit to publish my letter (= and I criticize it for that).

speak/think ill of somebody

(formal) to say or think bad things about somebody
- Don't speak ill of the dead.

think again

to consider a situation again and perhaps change your idea or intention
- You really should think again about that.

think aloud/out loud

to say what your thoughts are as you have them

think (the) better of somebody

to have a higher opinion of somebody
- She has behaved appallingly—I must say I thought better of her.
Topics Opinion and argumentc2

think better of it/of doing something

to decide not to do something after thinking further about it synonym reconsider
- Rosie was about to protest but thought better of it.

think for yourself

to form your own opinions and make decisions without depending on othersTopics Opinion and argumentc1

think/speak ill of somebody

(formal) to say or think bad things about somebody
- I wouldn't want them to think ill of me.

think nothing of something/of doing something

to consider an activity to be normal and not particularly unusual or difficult
- She thinks nothing of walking thirty miles a day.

think nothing of it

(formal) used as a polite response when somebody has said sorry to you or thanked you

think on your feet

to be able to think and react to things very quickly and effectively without any preparation

think out of the box

to think about something, or how to do something, in a way that is new, different or shows imagination

think straight

(used especially in negative sentences) to think in a clear or logical way
- The drugs were affecting her and she couldn't think straight.

think twice about something/about doing something

to think carefully before deciding to do something
- You should think twice about employing someone you've never met.
Topics Preferences and decisionsc1

think the world, highly, a lot, poorly, little, etc. of somebody/something

to have a very good, poor, etc. opinion of somebody/something
- He thinks the world of his daughter.
- I don't think much of her idea.
Topics Opinion and argumentc2

to think (that…)

used to show that you are surprised or shocked by something
- To think that my mother wrote all those books and I never knew!