THOUGHT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does thought mean? 

• THOUGHT (noun)
  The noun THOUGHT has 4 senses:

1. the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

2. the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

3. the organized beliefs of a period or group or individual

4. a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

  Familiarity information: THOUGHT used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• THOUGHT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

idea; thought

Context example:

the thought never entered my mind

Hypernyms ("thought" is a kind of...):

cognitive content; content; mental object (the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "thought"):

kink (an eccentric idea)

keynote (a fundamental or central idea)

idealisation; idealization (something that exists only as an idea)

ideal (the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain)

motif; theme (a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work)

burden (the central idea that is expanded in a document or discourse)

figment (a contrived or fantastic idea)

meaning; substance (the idea that is intended)

notion; whim; whimsey; whimsy (an odd or fanciful or capricious idea)

theorem (an idea accepted as a demonstrable truth)

belief; feeling; impression; notion; opinion (a vague idea in which some confidence is placed)

inspiration (arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity)

cogitation (a carefully considered thought about something)

concept; conception; construct (an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances)

preoccupation (an idea that preoccupies the mind and holds the attention)

misconception (an incorrect conception)

plan; program; programme (a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished)

generalisation; generality; generalization (an idea or conclusion having general application)

suggestion (an idea that is suggested)

reaction (an idea evoked by some experience)

Derivation:

think (recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection)

think (be capable of conscious thought)

think (have or formulate in the mind)

think (expect, believe, or suppose)

think (judge or regard; look upon; judge)

think (focus one's attention on a certain state)

think (ponder; reflect on, or reason about)

think (imagine or visualize)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The process of using your mind to consider something carefully

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

cerebration; intellection; mentation; thinking; thought; thought process

Context example:

she paused for thought

Hypernyms ("thought" is a kind of...):

higher cognitive process (cognitive processes that presuppose the availability of knowledge and put it to use)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "thought"):

construction; mental synthesis (the creation of a construct; the process of combining ideas into a congruous object of thought)

free association (a thought process in which ideas (words or images) suggest other ideas in a sequence)

divergent thinking; out-of-the-box thinking (thinking that moves away in diverging directions so as to involve a variety of aspects and which sometimes lead to novel ideas and solutions; associated with creativity)

convergent thinking (thinking that brings together information focussed on solving a problem (especially solving problems that have a single correct solution))

problem solving (the thought processes involved in solving a problem)

planning; preparation; provision (the cognitive process of thinking about what you will do in the event of something happening)

explanation (thought that makes something comprehensible)

excogitation (thinking something out with care in order to achieve complete understanding of it)

consideration (the process of giving careful thought to something)

ideation (the process of forming and relating ideas)

mysticism (obscure or irrational thought)

thread; train of thought (the connections that link the various parts of an event or argument together)

line of thought (a particular way of thinking that is characteristic of some individual or group)

abstract thought; logical thinking; reasoning (thinking that is coherent and logical)

Derivation:

think (be capable of conscious thought)

think (use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments)

think (ponder; reflect on, or reason about)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The organized beliefs of a period or group or individual

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

Darwinian thought

Hypernyms ("thought" is a kind of...):

belief (any cognitive content held as true)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "thought"):

mainstream (the prevailing current of thought)

Derivation:

think (dispose the mind in a certain way)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

opinion; persuasion; sentiment; thought; view

Context example:

what are your thoughts on Haiti?

Hypernyms ("thought" is a kind of...):

belief (any cognitive content held as true)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "thought"):

idea (a personal view)

judgement; judgment; mind (an opinion formed by judging something)

eyes (opinion or judgment)

parti pris; preconceived idea; preconceived notion; preconceived opinion; preconception; prepossession (an opinion formed beforehand without adequate evidence)

pole (one of two divergent or mutually exclusive opinions)

political sympathies; politics (the opinion you hold with respect to political questions)

Derivation:

think (expect, believe, or suppose)

think (judge or regard; look upon; judge)

 Context examples 

"I thought he must be somebody," was the faro-dealer's comment.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“What a noble heart that good man has!” thought he.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Nothing could equal my delight on seeing Clerval; his presence brought back to my thoughts my father, Elizabeth, and all those scenes of home so dear to my recollection.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

I think it does not look amiss; the sleeves were entirely my own thought.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Holmes had listened to his story with the utmost attention, and now he sat for some time in silent thought.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Everybody said how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her twice!

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

The men, Dorothy thought, were about as old as Uncle Henry, for two of them had beards.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

They said that he thought only of himself.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

But it was no affair of mine, I thought; and besides, it was difficult to know what to do.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

"Isn't that right? I thought it was better to do it so, because Meg's initials are M.M., and I don't want anyone to use these but Marmee," said Beth, looking troubled.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)