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thought

thought

1.4
The process of thinking or an idea that comes from thinking
  • noun
  • /θɔt/
translation icon : pensamiento
  • And I can't bear the thought of Christmas without you.
  • share your thoughts
  • express your thoughts
  • discuss your thoughts

When you believe that thought, how do you react?

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Examples

  • I just wanted to know your thoughts on gambling.

  • When you learn to be OK alone with your thoughts then maybe we'll talk.

  • And your first thought is, how did I do that?

  • You are not even your thoughts or your mind.

  • I just had another thought.

  • "I never would have given this a second thought, Mac, until three days ago."

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Well, it's the thought that counts.

  • I also provided models of the thought processes that must be used when one practices.

    Academic text (2011)
  • His brave smile would tremble at the thought of knocking on a stranger's door.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • My thought is that we should take a different approach to solve this problem.

Synonyms

idea
vsthought
1.0

A thought or plan formed in the mind

also means the mental process itself, not only individual products
view
vsthought
1.5

A personal opinion or belief about something

can mean a single idea or the broader mental process behind it
opinion
vsthought
1.0

A person's view about something

also covers ideas or beliefs formed from mental activity regardless of certainty
thinking
vsthought
872 1.8

Careful use of your mind to consider something

also includes single ideas or opinions produced by that mental activity
notion
vsthought
653 3.7

An idea or wish to do something, often sudden

is the same in meaning but appears as another common word
reasoning
vsthought
221 3.9

A way of thinking in a clear, logical order to form a conclusion

is broader, including nonlogical ideas and simple beliefs
sentiment
vsthought
185 4.0

An opinion people have that is not based on proof

is the general term for ideas or beliefs without implying lack of proof
think
vsthought
  • Informal
126 7.4

A short time when you consider something before deciding

is the general, neutral term covering both ideas and mental activity
thought process
vsthought
43 3.7

Mental steps used to consider and solve a problem

also refers to single ideas or beliefs formed during such steps
train of thought
vsthought
  • Informal
17 3.6

A set of ideas that follow each other in your mind

is the single idea or the overall mental process rather than the sequence
line of thought
vsthought
8 4.3

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

is the general product of mental activity or a single idea, not a style
ideation
vsthought
  • Jargon
6 7.9

To think of new plans or solutions for a problem

is more general, covering any mental activity or resulting idea
mental process
vsthought
  • Specialized
3 4.2

A brain activity like thinking, remembering, or deciding

is narrower, focusing on ideas and the specific process of using the mind
mentation
vsthought
  • Specialized
1 9.1

A process of thinking carefully about something

also names individual ideas or opinions that come from that process
intellection
vsthought
  • Specialized
1 9.6

Thinking carefully to understand or decide about something

is broader, also meaning the resulting idea or belief from that act
cerebration
vsthought
  • Formal
1 9.1

A careful, serious kind of thinking about something

also covers single ideas or beliefs produced by that mental activity

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 Insightful

epiphany
52 6.6
insight
493 4.9
thought
1.4
idea
1.0
notion
653 3.7

Surface Forms

thought singular
thoughts plural

Etymology

Thought comes from an old English word that meant 'to think' and is the same root as the verb think. So a thought is a 'small piece of thinking' — an idea, opinion, or belief that comes from your mind.