Can I use 'methinks' in a formal essay?

No, unless you are directly quoting a historical source or writing about the word itself. It is an archaism and inappropriate for modern formal writing.

What part of speech is 'methinks'?

It is an impersonal verb. Historically, it is a combination of the dative pronoun 'me' (to me) and the verb 'think' in an old form meaning 'it seems'.

Is 'methinks' related to 'I think'?

Not directly in a grammatical sense. 'I think' is a personal, active construction. 'Methinks' is an impersonal, passive-like construction meaning 'it seems to me'. They are historically from different roots.

Where does the famous phrase 'methinks the lady doth protest too much' come from?

It is a slightly misquoted line from William Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet' (Act 3, Scene 2). The original is 'The lady doth protest too much, methinks.'

How do you pronounce “methinks”?

Methinks: in British English it is pronounced /mɪˈθɪŋks/, and in American English it is pronounced /mɪˈθɪŋks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

methinks: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low

UK/mɪˈθɪŋks/US/mɪˈθɪŋks/

Archaic, Humorous (when used consciously), Literary

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “methinks” mean?

It seems to me.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

It seems to me; I think (an archaic impersonal expression of opinion).

Used to introduce a personal opinion or impression in an archaic, poetic, or self-consciously quaint manner.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in usage between varieties. Extremely rare and stylistically marked in both.

Connotations

Deliberately archaic or humorous; used to evoke a Shakespearean or old-fashioned tone. May signal irony, self-deprecation, or poetic flair.

Frequency

Vanishingly rare in both corpora. Occurs primarily in historical texts, set phrases, or intentional archaisms.

Grammar

How to Use “methinks” in a Sentence

Methinks + (that) clauseMethinks + subject complement structure

Vocabulary

Collocations

medium

methinks the ladymethinks it ismethinks you are

weak

methinks Imethinks wemethinks there ismethinks he doth

Examples

Examples of “methinks” in a Sentence

verb

British English

Methinks the train is running late, old chap.
"Methinks you've had one too many," he said with a chuckle.

American English

Methinks this budget proposal is a tad optimistic.
"Methinks the senator doth protest too much," the columnist wrote.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used; would be considered highly inappropriate and confusing.

Academic

Only used in direct quotations of historical/literary texts or in metalinguistic discussion of archaic forms.

Everyday

Not used except for humorous or ironic effect, which is very rare and often perceived as affected.

Technical

Not used.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “methinks”

Strong

meseems (archaic)

Neutral

it seems to meI thinkit appears to meI believe

Weak

in my opinionto my mindI suppose

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “methinks”

I knowI am certainundoubtedly

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “methinks”

Using it in modern, neutral contexts.
Conjugating it (e.g., 'he methinks', 'they methinks').
Treating it as a normal verb (e.g., 'I methinks that...').
Using it without 's' (e.g., 'methink').

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, unless you are directly quoting a historical source or writing about the word itself. It is an archaism and inappropriate for modern formal writing.
: It is an impersonal verb. Historically, it is a combination of the dative pronoun 'me' (to me) and the verb 'think' in an old form meaning 'it seems'.
: Not directly in a grammatical sense. 'I think' is a personal, active construction. 'Methinks' is an impersonal, passive-like construction meaning 'it seems to me'. They are historically from different roots.
: It is a slightly misquoted line from William Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet' (Act 3, Scene 2). The original is 'The lady doth protest too much, methinks.'
: It seems to me.
: Methinks: in British English it is pronounced /mɪˈθɪŋks/, and in American English it is pronounced /mɪˈθɪŋks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“Methinks the lady doth protest too much. (from Shakespeare's Hamlet)”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of the Shakespeare character saying 'ME THINKS' to the audience, pointing at themselves before sharing a thought.

Conceptual Metaphor

Opinion is a perception (thinking/seeing).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

In his review, the critic wrote, ' the director's vision is more style than substance.'

Multiple Choice

What is the primary reason 'methinks' is not used in modern English?