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thought

thought

271 5.2
A set of ideas and opinions shared by people at the same time
  • noun
  • /θɔt/
  • Formal
translation icon : pensamiento
  • There have been many significant shifts in societal thought regarding climate change over the past decade.
  • political thought
  • social thought
  • historical thought

Or rather Hegel says, their thought expressing itself.

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Examples

  • But Mr. Corben had second thoughts.

  • There have been two main schools of thought to explain the growth limitation.

    Academic text (2011)
  • What happened in Europe in this period affected the lives and thoughts of people across the globe.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Our finite mind consists of thought and perception.

  • Yael had given much thought to her options, and they were three, or possibly four.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The terrors of Canal Street were nothing compared to the thoughts of facing her father.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Until that moment, she had no real thought of publishing the diaries.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • In the strategic debate over Afghanistan, two opposing schools of thought have emerged.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Jasper has also had a significant influence on our thoughts and beliefs.

    Academic text (2011)
  • But Gentry's mind is too occupied with dark thoughts for him to respond.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

opinion
vsthought
298 1.0

The view that most people in a group have

is broader, including formal ideas and long intellectual trends rather than feelings
ideology
vsthought
277 6.3

Ideas and beliefs that guide a group's political and social actions

is broader, not limited to system foundations and covers general ideas
public opinion
vsthought
168 2.4

The views most people in a society have about an issue

is more general, covering long-term intellectual trends and group characteristics
school of thought
vsthought
  • Formal
24 3.9

A shared set of ideas about a subject held by a group

is broader and covers general intellectual trends across time and groups
line of thought
vsthought
8 4.3

A particular way of thinking about something that a person or group follows

is about wider sets of beliefs and intellectual trends beyond one reasoning line

Idioms

Carefully planned to work well

After thinking again, you change your mind

food for thought
  • Informal
15 3.4

An idea or remark that makes you think carefully

Thinking so much that you do not notice what is around you

Focusing very seriously on something in your mind

Words you say when you are surprised to see someone in an unexpected place

who'da thought
  • Informal
9.9

To show you are surprised something happened

Compounds

Mental steps used to consider and solve a problem

A thought that makes you doubt or change a decision you already made

24 3.9

A shared set of ideas about a subject held by a group

train of thought
  • Informal
17 3.6

A set of ideas that follow each other in your mind

A particular way of thinking about something that a person or group follows

3 3.7

The right to have your own opinions and beliefs, even if unpopular

A cloud-shaped picture above a character's head showing what they think

Liked and respected by many people

Ability to think about ideas that are not present and use reason

1 7.2

A belief in religious ideas based on reason and facts rather than on tradition or leaders

1 9.9

Sending thoughts and feelings directly from one person's mind to another without using words or touch

9.9

A faint early hint of an idea that appears later

Something that makes you think hard about a topic

An image you make in your mind when you imagine something

A magician who seems to know what people think by using tricks

A person who claims to know what others are thinking

thought-reader
  • Specialized
9.9

A device that turns brain signals into spoken words or actions

vaporous thought
  • Literature
9.0

An unclear, weak idea that is hard to hold in your mind

How Influential

ideology
277 6.3
thought
  • Formal
271 5.2
minority
754 3.5
fringe
64 6.8

Surface Forms

thought singular
thoughts plural

Etymology

Thought in this sense comes from the same old word for 'to think' and grew to mean the 'shared ideas' or beliefs of a person, group, or time. That's why we talk about 'Buddhist thought' or 'Enlightenment thought' when we mean the ideas that shape a movement or age.