think
A1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To use one's mind to form thoughts, opinions, or judgments; to have a mental process.
To believe, consider, have an opinion, or plan; to direct one's mind towards something. Also used as a noun meaning 'an act of thinking' or 'a period of thought' (e.g., have a think).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a mental activity verb. It can denote belief ('I think she's right'), consideration ('Think about it'), opinion formation, intention ('I think I'll go'), and remembering ('I can't think of his name'). The past tense and past participle is 'thought'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The noun use 'have a think' (e.g., 'I'll have a think about it') is far more common and idiomatic in British English than in American English, where 'think' as a noun is rarer and more informal.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'I think' can soften an opinion, making it less direct than 'I believe' or 'I know'. No significant connotative differences.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties, with near-identical usage patterns except for the noun usage noted above.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
think (that) + clausethink about/of + NP/gerundthink + interrogative (what/where/how) + clausethink + NP + complement (e.g., think it strange)think + to-infinitive (rare, e.g., 'I didn't think to ask')Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “think outside the box”
- “think on your feet”
- “think the world of someone”
- “think twice”
- “put on one's thinking cap”
- “great minds think alike”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in planning and strategy (e.g., 'We need to think long-term about market share').
Academic
Used to introduce hypotheses, opinions, or critical analysis (e.g., 'Scholars think this manuscript dates from the 12th century').
Everyday
Ubiquitous for expressing opinions, beliefs, and considerations in daily conversation.
Technical
Less common in pure technical writing, but appears in discussions of processes, AI (e.g., 'machine thinking'), or philosophy of mind.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I need to think it over before I decide.
- What do you think of the new prime minister?
- He's having a quiet think about his future.
American English
- I need to think it over before I decide.
- What do you think of the new president?
- Let me think on that for a bit.
adjective
British English
- It's a think tank specialising in economic policy.
- The event was a think piece on modern architecture.
American English
- He works for a Washington think tank.
- She wrote a compelling think piece for the magazine.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I think it's going to rain.
- Think about your answer.
- I think she is nice.
- I don't think we have enough time to finish.
- He's thinking of studying abroad next year.
- Let me think where I put the keys.
- I would never have thought to check the data so meticulously.
- They're widely thought to be the leading contenders.
- I was just thinking aloud, pay no attention.
- The philosopher encouraged us to think beyond conventional paradigms.
- It is thought that the artefact predates the earliest known settlements in the region.
- He thought himself fortunate to have escaped unscathed.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Link to the 'ink' in a pen – you use ink to write thoughts, and you use your mind to THINK.
Conceptual Metaphor
THINKING IS SEEING ('I see what you mean'), THINKING IS MOVING ('My thoughts wandered', 'Let's run that idea by the team'), THINKING IS OBJECT MANIPULATION ('I can't grasp the concept', 'Turn it over in your mind').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'think about' where Russian uses 'думать о' for 'intend to' (e.g., 'I'm thinking of going' not 'I think about going').
- Do not confuse 'I think so' (согласен/вероятно) with 'I think' (я думаю) as a simple opener.
- The noun 'a think' has no direct equivalent; use 'размышление' or 'мысль' contextually.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect tense: 'thinked' instead of 'thought'.
- Incorrect preposition: 'think for' instead of 'think of/about'.
- Overusing 'I think' in formal writing where a stronger assertion is needed.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase, more common in British English, uses 'think' as a noun?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Often interchangeable, but 'think of' can mean 'bring to mind' or 'consider briefly' ('I thought of you yesterday'), while 'think about' implies more prolonged consideration or analysis ('I need to think about this problem').
It can be seen as hedging or expressing personal opinion. In many academic contexts, stronger phrasing like 'It is argued', 'Evidence suggests', or 'I contend' is preferred for claims.
The negation typically attaches to the verb in the subordinate clause: 'Don't you think it's cold?' (Not 'Do you not think it's cold?', though that is grammatically possible but less common).
Yes, for actions happening at the moment of speaking or temporarily ('I'm thinking about what you said'). However, for states of belief ('I think he's honest'), the simple present is more common.