to think of

Examples

• All

• So I am trying to think of how to kind of explain this.

• I'm trying to think of more day-to-day examples.

• OK, so you can think of something like this.

• Do I have to think of everything?

  Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

• We will only think of how to enhance this.

• But now let's think of this in a slightly different way.

• And I'm trying to think of a good example.

  Film Courage

• Children may need 10 or more seconds to process an open-ended prompt and think of a response.

  Academic text (2013)

• I'm trying to think of a solution to this problem that will work for everyone.

• Can you think of a better way to organize the project than what we've discussed?

Synonyms

C

to create

vsto think of

∞ 1.0

To make something new that does not exist yet

is narrower, focusing on mental invention rather than physical making

C

to come up with

vsto think of

∞ 2.7

To think of an idea or plan

is the broader act of thinking up ideas, not only supplying them

D

to design

vsto think of

∞ 2.6

To plan and make something so it looks and works as needed

is broader, applying to idea making beyond appearance or function focus

C

to come up

vsto think of

∞ 3.2

To think of an idea or plan

is more about original invention rather than simply supplying usefulness

I

to invent

vsto think of

181 3.2

To make up a story or excuse that is not true

is used more generally for inventing plans or solutions rather than fabrications

D

to devise

vsto think of

135 4.8

To plan or invent something carefully

is more general, not always implying careful planning or detail

C

to conceive

vsto think of

74 5.2

To form an idea or plan in your mind

is the wider act of making ideas rather than just forming them

F

to formulate

vsto think of

59 4.5

To create and describe an idea, plan, or theory clearly

focuses on making ideas rather than expressing them precisely

F

to forge

vsto think of

56 4.7

To create a plan or idea after careful thought

is the broader act of thinking of ideas without stressing long effort

T

to think up

vsto think of

48 3.2

To make up an idea, plan, or excuse

is the general act of producing an idea without stressing effort

C

to concoct

vsto think of

46 6.0

Make up a story or excuse to trick people

is broader and not necessarily creative or deceitful in intention

D

to dream up

vsto think of

• Informal

38 3.9

To think of a new or unusual idea

is the general process of inventing, not only fanciful imaginings

H

to hatch

vsto think of

35 5.2

To make a plan in secret, often to surprise someone

is more openly about inventing rather than secretive plotting

C

to contrive

vsto think of

13 7.3

To invent a clever plan or excuse

is the simpler act of coming up with an idea without clever trick

C

to conceptualize

vsto think of

12 6.9

To form an idea in your mind about something

is the general making of ideas, not only forming abstract concepts

C

to cook up a plan

vsto think of

• Informal

1 4.4

To think of a clever or secret plan to do something

is the general mental act of making plans without implied secrecy

C

to create mentally

vsto think of

6.7

To form an idea or picture in your mind

covers mental invention but also practical planning beyond imagination

Antonyms

C

to copy

177 1.0

Do something the same way someone else does

How Creative

to invent

532 3.1

to devise

135 4.8

to think of

866 2.1

to come up with

∞ 2.7

to adapt

178 3.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology