think

The definition of think is to have an idea or belief about something, or to use your brain to consider or judge, or to state something more politely.

(verb)

  1. When you believe that the sky is blue, this is an example of when you think the sky is blue.
  2. When you pause to consider your position on an issue, this is an example of when you think about the issue.
  3. If you believe someone is wrong but you want to say so nicely, this is an example of when you could say "I think you are wrong."

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See think in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb thought, thinking

  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. Now Rare to purpose; intend: thinking to do right
    1. to bring to mind; form an idea of: think what the future holds
    2. to recall; recollect: think what joy was ours
  6. to have the mind turned steadily toward; have constantly in mind: think success

Origin: < ME thenchen, to think, confused with thinchen, to seem < OE thencan < PGmc *thankjan, to think: for IE base see thank

intransitive verb

  1. to use the mind for arriving at conclusions, making decisions, drawing inferences, etc.; reflect; reason: learn to think
  2. to have an opinion, belief, expectation, etc.: I just think so
  3. to weigh something mentally; reflect: think before you act
  4. to call to mind; recall; remember: with of or about
  5. to have an opinion, judgment, etc.: with of or about
  6. to allow oneself to consider: with of or about
  7. to have regard for; consider the welfare of: with of or about
  8. to discover or invent; conceive (of)

noun

Informal the act of thinking: give it a good think

adjective

Slang having to do with thinking

Related Forms:

impersonal verb thought

to seem: obs., except in archaic methinks, methought

Origin: < ME thinchen, to seem, confused with thenchen, to think: see think

a pattern or manner of thinking: groupthink

See think in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb thought thought (thôt), think·ing, thinks
verb, transitive
  1. To have or formulate in the mind.
  2. a. To reason about or reflect on; ponder: Think how complex language is. Think the matter through.
    b. To decide by reasoning, reflection, or pondering: thinking what to do.
  3. To judge or regard; look upon: I think it only fair.
  4. To believe; suppose: always thought he was right.
  5. a. To expect; hope: They thought she'd arrive early.
    b. To intend: They thought they'd take their time.
  6. To call to mind; remember: I can't think what her name was.
  7. To visualize; imagine: Think what a scene it will be at the reunion.
  8. To devise or evolve; invent: thought up a plan to get rich quick.
  9. To bring into a given condition by mental preoccupation: He thought himself into a panic over the impending examination.
  10. To concentrate one's thoughts on: “Think languor” (Diana Vreeland).
verb, intransitive
  1. To exercise the power of reason, as by conceiving ideas, drawing inferences, and using judgment.
  2. To weigh or consider an idea: They are thinking about moving.
  3. a. To bring a thought to mind by imagination or invention: No one before had thought of bifocal glasses.
    b. To recall a thought or an image to mind: She thought of her childhood when she saw the movie.
  4. To believe; suppose: He thinks of himself as a wit. It's later than you think.
  5. To have care or consideration: Think first of the ones you love.
  6. To dispose the mind in a given way: Do you think so?
adjective
Informal
Requiring much thought to create or assimilate: a think book.
noun
The act or an instance of deliberate or extended thinking; a meditation.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English thenken

Origin: , from Old English thencan; see tong- in Indo-European roots

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