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Definitions

thought

[thawt] / θɔt /
NOUN
formation of mental objects
Synonyms
STRONGEST
attention hope logic reflection speculation thinking understanding
STRONG
anticipation apprehending cerebration cogitation cognition concluding consideration considering contemplation deducing deduction deliberation deriving discerning heed ideation inducing inferring introspection intuition judging knowing meditation musing perceiving rationalization rationalizing realizing reasoning regard rumination scrutiny seeing study theorization
WEAK
brainwork
Antonyms
STRONGEST
disbelief
STRONG
disdain disregard disrespect heedlessness ignorance neglect negligence thoughtlessness
WEAK
concrete thing vacancy vacuity
NOUN
idea, concept
Synonyms
STRONGEST
anxiety assessment belief concern conclusion dream expectation feeling hope image intention judgment knowledge notion opinion plan prospect theory thinking understanding view worry
STRONG
aim appreciation aspiration assumption attentiveness brainchild brainstorm caring compassion conception conjecture conviction design drift estimation fancy guess hypothesis inference intuition kindness object premise purpose regard reverie solicitude supposition sympathy
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calmness certainty concrete disbelief fact ignorance reality truth
STRONG
cruelty dislike disregard harshness hate indifference knowledge meanness measurement mercilessness neglect proof
WEAK
thing vacancy vacuity

Usage

What are other ways to say thought? The noun thought, which reflects its primary emphasis on the mental process, may denote any concept except the more weighty and elaborate ones: I welcomed his thoughts on the subject. A thought came to him. Idea, although it may refer to thoughts of any degree of seriousness or triviality, is commonly used for mental concepts considered more important or elaborate: We pondered the idea of the fourth dimension. The idea of his arrival frightened me. Conception suggests a thought that seems complete, individual, recent, or somewhat intricate: The architect's conception delighted them. Notion suggests a fleeting, vague, or imperfect thought: a bare notion of how to proceed.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sir Olly added that he "felt quite uncomfortable about it" and kept "giving advice that I thought this would be very hard for the office and was hard for me personally to defend".

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

And I just thought: I’m gonna take that for “White Wedding.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

His Waynesburg pitching coach, Perry Cunningham, was frequently frustrated with what he thought was Miller’s unwillingness to put in the necessary work in the weight room to improve his strength and perplexingly poor stamina.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

Traditionally, these interactions were thought to involve material exchange only at the outer surfaces of metals and their supports, with the boundary between them playing a key role in reactions.

From Science Daily • Apr. 21, 2026

“I thought there was something between us, with the game, but then you looked at her and smiled and talked, so I figured that you were into her.”

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Vocabulary lists containing thought

Lesson 4

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!