thought 1 of 2

noun

ˈthȯt How to pronounce thought (audio)
Definition of thoughtnext
1
as in consideration
a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something I'll give your request some thought and then let you know what my decision is

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in idea
something imagined or pictured in the mind I just had a thought: what if we both pitched in and bought him one big present instead of two smaller presents for his birthday?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

thought

2 of 2

verb

past tense of think
as in believed
to have as an opinion I think we should wait for someone to come help us out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun thought contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of thought are conception, concept, idea, impression, and notion. While all these words mean "what exists in the mind as a representation (as of something comprehended) or as a formulation (as of a plan)," thought is likely to suggest the result of reflecting, reasoning, or meditating rather than of imagining.

commit your thoughts to paper

When might concept be a better fit than thought?

The words concept and thought are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, concept may apply to the idea formed by consideration of instances of a species or genus or, more broadly, to any idea of what a thing ought to be.

a society with no concept of private property

How do conception and concept relate to one another, in the sense of thought?

Conception is often interchangeable with concept; it may stress the process of imagining or formulating rather than the result.

our changing conception of what constitutes art

When is it sensible to use idea instead of thought?

Although the words idea and thought have much in common, idea may apply to a mental image or formulation of something seen or known or imagined, to a pure abstraction, or to something assumed or vaguely sensed.

innovative ideas
my idea of paradise

When would impression be a good substitute for thought?

The synonyms impression and thought are sometimes interchangeable, but impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.

the first impression is of soaring height

In what contexts can notion take the place of thought?

While in some cases nearly identical to thought, notion suggests an idea not much resolved by analysis or reflection and may suggest the capricious or accidental.

you have the oddest notions

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of thought
Noun
Pope says he’s still haunted by the thought that an innocent Black man could have ended up in jail because of the false accusation. —Emma Tucker, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024 After months of use at home and on the road, here are my thoughts on the viral smart ring. —Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
The chain-of-thought approach forces the AI to take more computational cycles, working stepwise on a systematic basis, and calculate answers to a more extensive degree. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024 The measurement is thought to be a more accurate predictor of disease risk than body mass index (BMI). —Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for thought 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thought
  1. consideration
  2. idea
  3. believed
  4. deliberation
  5. concept
  6. impression
  7. notion
  8. considered
Noun
  • Building off this focus on technique, a good strength training program for youth should progress from simple movements to more complex movements and lighter weights to heavier weights, taking into consideration that not all youth will adapt at the same rate.
    Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2024
  • Insurance premiums and other considerations increased to $30,011,081 from $28,906,803 in the previous year, driven by higher renewal premiums.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Definition of consideration
Noun
  • Two to three yards, everybody’s got the good ideas.
    Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
  • For more gift ideas, be sure to check out our picks for the 10 top Amazon Black Friday deals here and the 10 top Walmart Black Friday deals here.
    Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Definition of idea
Verb
  • Borgwardt also is also alleged to have taken photos of his passport, moved funds to a foreign bank and changed his email address, and he was believed to have been communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan, Podoll said.
    Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 11 Nov. 2024
  • Of those, about 100 remain in captivity, with a third believed to be dead.
    Keir Simmons, NBC News, 9 Nov. 2024
Definition of believed
Noun
  • Marina Dimitrijevic, who chairs the powerful Finance and Personnel Committee that leads the budget deliberations, in a statement after adoption thanked those who were involved in the process.
    Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2024
  • After six hours of jury deliberation, Leilani Simon, 24, was convicted of all 19 charges against her on Friday, including malice murder, concealing the death of another and multiple counts of making a false statement, WTOC reported.
    Christina Coulter, Fox News, 1 Nov. 2024
Definition of deliberation
Noun
  • The new brewery concept will officially open its doors to the public at 5 p.m. Friday.
    Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 21 Nov. 2024
  • The concept behind this is that by front-loading depreciation deductions, businesses, including those owning mobile home parks, have more capital to reinvest into their operations sooner, thus driving further economic growth.
    Brian Spear, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Definition of concept
Noun
  • Palmer recalled, with an on-point impression of the rapper.
    Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Once again, their playful (but gently existential) rivalry is expressed through dueling impressions of the more famous men who came before them.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2024
Definition of impression
Noun
  • Linkages between these users and any administration would subvert the traditional notion of citizenship, and agreements between the entities would be unlike ordinary alliances.
    Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
  • Mann scorned the notion of the writer as political activist.
    George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of notion
Verb
  • While the storm expected this weekend is considered to be strong, it's not supposed to be as powerful as the one in May.
    Alex Sundby, CBS News, 4 Oct. 2024
  • Innovation is often considered the lifeblood of any business — but for firms in heavily regulated industries, a perception can arise that innovation is extremely difficult (if not impossible) to come by.
    Kate Vitasek, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Definition of considered

Phrases Containing thought

Thesaurus Entries Near thought

though

thought

thought (about or over)

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Cite this Entry

“Thought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thought. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on thought

Nglish: Translation of thought for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of thought for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about thought

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