thought 1 of 2

noun

ˈthȯt How to pronounce thought (audio)
Definition of thoughtnext
1
as in consideration
a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something I'll give your request some thought and then let you know what my decision is

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in idea
something imagined or pictured in the mind I just had a thought: what if we both pitched in and bought him one big present instead of two smaller presents for his birthday?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

thought

2 of 2

verb

past tense of think
as in believed
to have as an opinion I think we should wait for someone to come help us out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun thought contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of thought are conception, concept, idea, impression, and notion. While all these words mean "what exists in the mind as a representation (as of something comprehended) or as a formulation (as of a plan)," thought is likely to suggest the result of reflecting, reasoning, or meditating rather than of imagining.

commit your thoughts to paper

When might concept be a better fit than thought?

The words concept and thought are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, concept may apply to the idea formed by consideration of instances of a species or genus or, more broadly, to any idea of what a thing ought to be.

a society with no concept of private property

How do conception and concept relate to one another, in the sense of thought?

Conception is often interchangeable with concept; it may stress the process of imagining or formulating rather than the result.

our changing conception of what constitutes art

When is it sensible to use idea instead of thought?

Although the words idea and thought have much in common, idea may apply to a mental image or formulation of something seen or known or imagined, to a pure abstraction, or to something assumed or vaguely sensed.

innovative ideas
my idea of paradise

When would impression be a good substitute for thought?

The synonyms impression and thought are sometimes interchangeable, but impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.

the first impression is of soaring height

In what contexts can notion take the place of thought?

While in some cases nearly identical to thought, notion suggests an idea not much resolved by analysis or reflection and may suggest the capricious or accidental.

you have the oddest notions

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of thought
Noun
McIlroy prefaces his final thought with a warning: Some people might view this as totally backwards. —Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025 What are your thoughts on critiques like that? Rosher: As Kief said, there were months and months of discussions about this because that was the concern. —Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
Some of the rules, like only having one serve, should also give tennis pause for thought about whether there are elements of UTS that would work well on the main tour. —Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024 The system as envisioned in the First Amendment, that the government cannot interfere with the freedom of the press, is working precisely as the Founders thought. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for thought
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thought
  1. consideration
  2. idea
  3. believed
  4. deliberation
  5. concept
  6. guessed
  7. impression
  8. notion
Noun
  • In an event where wind is not a consideration, Cathedral Catholic’s Jocelyn Gibson edged Patrick Henry’s Miriam Aguirre in the girls 1,600 at UC.
    — Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Addressing these ethical considerations will require engagement from not just developers but also policymakers and committees responsible for upholding responsible AI use companywide to ensure diverse perspectives are considered.
    — Rupesh Dabbir, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of consideration
Noun
  • Thankfully, the other two judges have an idea how to properly judge a mixed martial arts fight and the right man got the win.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Dolly Parton’s cookbook, Good Lookin’ Cookin’, is filled with a year's worth of classic recipes and menu ideas.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of idea
Verb
  • Estimates of Gaza’s Christian population range from roughly 800 to more than 1,000, although hundreds are believed to have left for Egypt, Canada and Australia since the war began.
    — Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Bells in the church, with a gold cross on its steeple visible on Broadway and surrounding blocks, are believed to be more than 170 years old.
    — Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of believed
Noun
  • Ahead of Monday's hearing, the Justice Department warned Oyer that discussing internal deliberations—particularly regarding pardons and gun rights—could violate executive privilege, which shields certain presidential communications from disclosure.
    — John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Two people familiar with the matter, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, confirmed the department's decision to decline to prosecute.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of deliberation
Noun
  • And now, the time was ripe to take its concept on the road.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • But is this really a new concept, or just a rebranding?
    — Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of concept
Verb
  • Strong passwords that are not easily guessed and/or a password manager.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg guessed Jason Derulo.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 19 Dec. 2024
Definition of guessed
Noun
  • My impression of bath mats, from years of owning ones that end up getting soggy on contact, was that there was little to nothing to do about mildew, puddles of water, and discoloration.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 27 Mar. 2025
  • And those first impressions include just about everything.
    — Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of impression
Noun
  • Thibodeau shot down the notion Anunoby will be resigned to spacing the floor in the corners once Brunson returns to the lineup.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Any specific test—the LSAT or ARC-AGI or a coding puzzle—will inherently contradict the notion of general intelligence; the term’s defining trait may be its undefinability.
    — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of notion

Phrases Containing thought

Browse Nearby Words

though
thought
thought (about or over)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thought. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on thought

Nglish: Translation of thought for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about thought

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All