think

Pronunciation: /θɪŋk/

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Definition of think

verb (past and past participle thought /θɔːt/)

1 [with clause] have a particular belief or idea:she thought that nothing would be the same again (be thought)it’s thought he may have collapsed from shock [with infinitive]:up to 300 people were thought to have died
used in questions to express anger or surprise:what do you think you’re doing?
(I think) used in speech to reduce the force of a statement, or to politely suggest or refuse something:I thought we could go out for a meal

2 [no object] direct one’s mind towards someone or something; use one’s mind actively to form connected ideas:he was thinking about Colin Jack thought for a moment [with object]:any writer who so rarely produces a book is not thinking deep thoughts
have a particular mental attitude or approach:he thought like a general [with complement]:one should always think positive
(think of/about) take into consideration when deciding on a possible action:you can live how you like, but there’s the children to think about
(think of) call to mind:lemon thyme is a natural pair with any chicken dish you can think of
(think of/about) consider the possibility or advantages of (a course of action):he was thinking of becoming a zoologist
(think to do something) have sufficient foresight or awareness to do something:I hadn’t thought to warn Rachel about him
imagine or expect (an actual or possible situation):think of being paid a salary to hunt big game! [with clause]:I never thought we’d raise so much money
(think oneself into) imagine what it would be like to be in (a position or role):she tried to think herself into the part of Peter’s fiancée

3 [no object] (think of) have a specified opinion of:she did not think highly of modern art what would John think of her? I think of him as a friend

noun

[in singular] informal

an act of thinking:I went for a walk to have a think

Phrases

have (got) another think coming: informal used to express the speaker’s disagreement with or unwillingness to do something suggested by someone else:if they think I’m going to do physical jerks, they’ve got another think coming
think again: reconsider something: the advisory committee must think again about its approach
think aloud: express one’s thoughts as soon as they occur: no definite proposal, my dear chap—just thinking aloud
think better of: decide not to do (something) after reconsideration: he turned to shoot, then thought better of it
think big: see big.
think fit: see fit¹.
think for oneself: have an independent mind or attitude: the aim is to get the students to think for themselves
think nothing of: consider (an activity others regard as unusual, wrong, or difficult) as straightforward or normal:ordinarily, our elected representatives would think nothing of spending another $20 billion
think nothing of it: see nothing.
think on one's feet: see foot.
think twice: consider a course of action carefully before embarking on it: she would think twice about accepting a job where smoking was the norm
think the world of: see world.

Phrasal Verbs

think back: recall a past event or time:I keep thinking back to school
think on: dialect & North American think of or about: I think on her every day in my prayers
think something out (or through): consider something in all its aspects before taking action:the plan had not been properly thought out
think something over: consider something carefully: he told the player to go home and think over his offer
think something up: informal use one’s ingenuity to devise something: Nick went away to think up an alternative plan

Origin:

Old English thencan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German denken

Spelling help

The ending of thought is spelled -ought.

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think

verb (past and past participle thought /θɔːt/)

noun

Phrases

have (got) another think coming

think again

think aloud

think better of

think big

think fit

think for oneself

think nothing of

think nothing of it

think on one's feet

think twice

think the world of

Phrasal Verbs

think back

think on

think something out (or through)

think something over

think something up

Origin:

Spelling help

think in other Oxford dictionaries

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