think (thinks 3rd person present) (thinking present participle) (thought past tense & past participle )
1 verb If you think that something is the case, you have the opinion that it is the case.
no cont
I certainly think there should be a ban on tobacco advertising... V that
A generation ago, it was thought that babies born this small could not survive... it be V-ed that
Tell me, what do you think of my theory?... V of/about n
Peter is useless, far worse than I thought... V
He manages a good deal better than I thought possible... V adj
`It ought to be stopped.'—`Yes, I think so.' V so/not
2 verb If you say that you think that something is true or will happen, you mean that you have the impression that it is true or will happen, although you are not certain of the facts.
no cont
Nora thought he was seventeen years old... V that
The storm is thought to be responsible for as many as four deaths... be V-ed to-inf
`Did Mr Stevens ever mention her to you?'—`No, I don't think so.' V so/not
3 verb If you think in a particular way, you have those general opinions or attitudes.
no cont, no passive
You were probably brought up to think like that... V like n
If you think as I do, vote as I do... V as/like cl
I don't blame you for thinking that way. V n
4 verb When you think about ideas or problems, you make a mental effort to consider them.
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to think... V
I have often thought about this problem... V about n/wh
Let's think what we can do... V wh
We had to think what to do next. V wh-to-inf
Think is also a noun. (mainly BRIT) n-sing a N
I'll have a think about that.
5 verb If you think in a particular way, you consider things, solve problems, or make decisions in this way, for example because of your job or your background.
no passive
To make the computer work at full capacity, the programmer has to think like the machine... V prep
The referee has to think the way the players do. V n
6 verb If you thinkof something, it comes into your mind or you remember it.
no cont
Nobody could think of anything to say... V of n
I was trying to think what else we had to do. V wh
7 verb If you think of an idea, you make a mental effort and use your imagination and intelligence to create it or develop it.
He thought of another way of getting out of the marriage... V of n
8 verb If you are thinking something at a particular moment, you have words or ideas in your mind without saying them out loud.
no passive
She must be ill, Tatiana thought... V with quote
I remember thinking how lovely he looked... V wh/that
I'm trying to think positive thoughts. V n
9 verb If you think of someone or something as having a particular quality or purpose, you regard them as having this quality or purpose.
no cont
We all thought of him as a father... V of n as n/-ing
Nobody had thought him capable of that kind of thing. V n adj
10 verb If you think a lot of someone or something, you admire them very much or think they are very good.
no cont
To tell the truth, I don't think much of psychiatrists... V amount of n
People at the club think very highly of him... V adv of n
11 verb If you thinkof someone, you show consideration for them and pay attention to their needs.
I'm only thinking of you... V of n
You don't have to think about me and Hugh. V about n
12 verb If you are thinking of taking a particular course of action, you are considering it as a possible course of action.
Martin was thinking of taking legal action against Zuckerman... V of -ing/n
13 verb You can say that you are thinking of a particular aspect or subject, in order to introduce an example or explain more exactly what you are talking about.
usu cont
I'm primarily thinking of the first year... V of n
14 verb You use think in questions where you are expressing your anger or shock at someone's behaviour.
only interrog (disapproval)
What were you thinking of? You shouldn't steal. V of n/-ing
15 verb You use think when you are commenting on something which you did or experienced in the past and which now seems surprising, foolish, or shocking to you.
no cont, no passive
To think I left you alone in a place with a madman at large!... V that
When I think of how you've behaved and the trouble you've got into! V of n
16 verb You can use think in expressions such as you would think or I would have thought when you are criticizing someone because they ought to or could be expected to do something, but have not done it.
no cont (disapproval)
You'd think you'd remember to wash your ears... V that
`Surely to God she should have been given some proper help.'—`Well I would have thought so.' V so, Also V
17 verb You can use think in expressions such as anyone would think and you would think to express your surprise or disapproval at the way someone is behaving.
no cont
Anyone would think you were in love with the girl... V that
19 You use expressions such as come to think of it, when you think about it, or thinking about it, when you mention something that you have suddenly remembered or realized.
come to think of it/when you think about it phrase PHR with cl
He was her distant relative, as was everyone else on the island, come to think of it...
20 You use `I think' as a way of being polite when you are explaining or suggesting to someone what you want to do, or when you are accepting or refusing an offer.
I think phrase PHR that, PHR with cl, PHR so/not (politeness)
I think I'll go home and have a shower..., We need a job, and I thought we could go around and ask if people need odd jobs done...
21 You use `I think' in conversations or speeches to make your statements and opinions sound less forceful, rude, or direct.
I think phrase PHR that, PHR with cl, PHR so/not (vagueness)
I think he means `at' rather than `to'..., Thanks, but I think I can handle it...
22 You say just think when you feel excited, fascinated, or shocked by something, and you want the person to whom you are talking to feel the same.
just think phrase PHR with cl, PHR wh
(=imagine)
Just think; tomorrow we shall walk out of this place and leave it all behind us forever...
23 If you think againabout an action or decision, you consider it very carefully, often with the result that you change your mind and decide to do things differently.
think again phrase oft PHR about n/-ing
It has forced politicians to think again about the wisdom of trying to evacuate refugees...
24 If you think nothing of doing something that other people might consider difficult, strange, or wrong, you consider it to be easy or normal, and you do it often or would be quite willing to do it.
to think nothing of phrase V inflects, PHR -ing
I thought nothing of betting £1,000 on a horse.
25 If something happens and you think nothing of it, you do not pay much attention to it or think of it as strange or important, although later you realize that it is.
think nothing of it phrase V inflects
When she went off to see her parents for the weekend I thought nothing of it...
26 →
you can't hear yourself think →
hear →
to shudder to think →
shudder →
to think better of it →
better →
to think big →
big →
to think twice →
twice →
to think the world of someone →
world think back phrasal verb If you think back, you make an effort to remember things that happened to you in the past.
(=look back) I thought back to the time in 1975 when my son was desperately ill... V P prep Thinking back, I don't know how I had the courage. V P think out phrasal verb If you think something out, you consider all the aspects and details of it before doing anything or making a decision. I need time alone to think things out... V n P The book is detailed and well thought out... V-ed P He chewed at the end of his pencil, thinking out the next problem. V P n (not pron) think over phrasal verb If you think something over, you consider it carefully before making a decision. She said she needs time to think it over... V n P I suggest you think over your position very carefully. V P n (not pron) think through phrasal verb If you think a situation through, you consider it thoroughly, together with all its possible effects or consequences. I didn't think through the consequences of promotion... V P n (not pron) It was the first time she'd had a chance to think it through. V n P think up phrasal verb If you think something up, for example an idea or plan, you invent it using mental effort. Julian has been thinking up new ways of raising money... V P n (not pron) `Where do you get that idea about the piano?'—`Well, I just thought it up.' V n P
think piece (think pieces plural ), think-piece A think piece is an article in a newspaper or magazine that discusses a particular subject in a serious and thoughtful way. n-count
think-tank (think-tanks plural )A think-tank is a group of experts who are gathered together by an organization, especially by a government, in order to consider various problems and try and work out ways to solve them. n-count-coll
...Moscow's leading foreign policy think-tank.
