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in deep thought

in deep thought

1 4.2
Focusing very seriously on something in your mind
  • idiom
translation icon : sumido en pensamientos
  • Anyone else but us would have thought he was deaf or so lost in deep thought that he hadn't heard a word.

And I just was sitting there in deep thought looking at the stars.

Examples

  • At dawn and dusk, the Saints came to the pond and sat down to become immersed in deep thought.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Owyn stands and looks to Thoden. Thoden sits on his throne with Gandalf at his side, his head buried in his hand in deep thought.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • And I just was sitting there in deep thought looking at the stars.

  • I was in deep thought and silent for most of the journey.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Silence descended as the dozen men before him sat in deep thought.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • On the other side of the room, Suzie is looking quietly at them as if she is in deep thought.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Malcolm is in deep thought as he drives.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The admiral stood, took a couple of steps as if in deep thought, then turned to face the two newcomers.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The pond was in a forest, and no one knew that it existed, except the Saints of Essaouira, who met there twice a day, at dawn and at dusk, to sit near the water and become immersed in deep thought.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • She sat quietly by the window, absorbed in deep thought about her future.

Synonyms

meditative
vsin deep thought
17 5.6

Thinking deeply and quietly in a calm way

leans toward intense, serious concentration rather than calm absorption
contemplative
vsin deep thought
15 6.0

Thinking deeply and quietly, often for a long time

emphasizes intense and concentrated mental effort rather than calm reflection
lost in thought
vsin deep thought
7 4.2

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

keeps attention intensely on matter rather than becoming unaware of surroundings
pondering
vsin deep thought
5.5

Thinking carefully for a long time about something

focuses more on strong sustained concentration than careful examination
musing
vsin deep thought
6.1

Being quiet and thinking deeply about something

requires stronger focused effort rather than casual or relaxed reflection
abstracted
vsin deep thought
7.1

Thinking deeply about something else and not noticing what is around you

involves focused serious concentration rather than detached absence of attention

Antonyms

16 4.8

Not paying attention to one thing and having no clear goal

Not able to pay attention because your mind is on other things

How Focused

in deep thought
1 4.2
thinking
872 1.8

Surface Forms

in deep thought positive

Morphology

in + deep + thought

The meaning 'concentrating intensely' is directly and compositionally derived from 'in' (a state), 'deep' (intense/profound) and 'thought' (thinking). This is a common, cross-linguistic way to describe intense mental focus, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words should be able to understand the phrase without prior exposure.

Etymology

The phrase in deep thought paints the image of someone standing in water so deep that only their head shows, making them still and quiet. That's why it means being so absorbed in 'thinking' that you do not notice what is around you.