thought
A1 (very high)Neutral; used across all registers from informal to formal.
Definition
Meaning
The process or product of using the mind to consider or reason about something; an idea or opinion produced by thinking.
A mental state of care or consideration for someone or something; the act or process of thinking.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun 'thought' can refer to the activity of thinking (uncountable), a single instance of an idea (countable), or a state of caring (uncountable, as in 'give it some thought'). It is also the past tense and past participle of the verb 'think'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. Possible minor variations in frequency of certain collocations or idioms.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N of N (a thought of you)N about N (thoughts about the future)N that-clause (the thought that she might be late)Adj N (happy thought)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A penny for your thoughts”
- “Perish the thought!”
- “Food for thought”
- “On second thought(s)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in strategy meetings and planning ('We need more strategic thought on this merger').
Academic
Common in philosophy, psychology, and critical analysis ('Cartesian thought revolutionized philosophy').
Everyday
Ubiquitous in daily conversation about opinions and ideas ('I just had a thought about dinner').
Technical
Used in computing and AI ('machine thought', 'computational models of thought').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She thought the film was brilliant, so she went to see it again.
- I thought I'd pop round later, if that's alright.
American English
- He thought the movie was awesome, so he streamed it again.
- I thought I'd swing by later, if that's okay.
adverb
British English
- (Rare as pure adverb) He acted thoughtlessly.
- (In compounds) thoughtfully presented
American English
- (Rare as pure adverb) She spoke thoughtlessly.
- (In compounds) thoughtfully designed
adjective
British English
- It was a well-thought-out plan, meticulously prepared.
- She is a thoughtful person, always considering others.
American English
- It was a well-thought-out proposal, carefully drafted.
- He's a thoughtful guy, always sending thank-you notes.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I thought about my friend.
- It was a nice thought.
- She had no thought of leaving.
- The very thought of flying makes me nervous.
- He gave the problem considerable thought.
- My first thought was to call for help.
- Her writings reflect the political thought of the early 20th century.
- After much thought, I've decided to decline the offer.
- He was lost in thought and didn't hear the question.
- The philosopher's seminal work shaped Western thought for generations.
- Her apology, while welcome, seemed devoid of genuine thought or remorse.
- The architect's design demonstrates a profound thought process regarding urban space.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
THOUGHT: The word 'though' ends with 'ght' after you've THOUGHT about it.
Conceptual Metaphor
THOUGHT IS A JOURNEY (I lost my train of thought), THOUGHT IS FOOD (food for thought), THOUGHT IS AN OBJECT (I gathered my thoughts).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'though' (хотя).
- В значении 'забота, внимание' (give it some thought) может переводиться как 'внимание' или 'размышление', а не 'мысль'.
- Past tense 'thought' (think- thought- thought) часто ошибочно произносят как 'sought' или 'taught'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect spelling: 'throught', 'thougt'.
- Confusion with 'though'/'although'.
- Mispronunciation: /θoʊt/ (like 'boat') instead of /θɔːt/.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses 'thought' as the past tense of 'think'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily a noun, but it is also the past tense and past participle form of the verb 'think' (think-thought-thought).
'A thought' refers to a single, specific idea or instance of thinking. Uncountable 'thought' refers to the general activity or process of thinking, or to a state of consideration.
In British English and most American accents, it's /θɔːt/. In some American accents (notably the Boston/New York area), it may be pronounced /θɑːt/. The 'gh' is silent, and it rhymes with 'caught' or 'taught'.
'On second thought(s)' is very common, meaning after reconsidering something (AmE typically 'on second thought', BrE often 'on second thoughts').