thinking

1 of 2

noun

think·​ing ˈthiŋ-kiŋ 

1

: the action of using one's mind to produce thoughts

2

a

: opinion, judgment

I'd like to know your thinking on this

b

: thought that is characteristic (as of a period, group, or person)

the current student thinking on fraternities

thinking

2 of 2

adjective

: marked by use of the intellect : rational

thinking citizens

thinkingly adverb

thinkingness noun

Synonyms of thinking

Adjective

• reasoning
• rational
• intelligent

Examples of thinking in a Sentence

Noun

Form your own opinions: don't let others do your thinking for you!

I've been doing some thinking about this, and I don't think you're right after all.

The school's curriculum encourages independent thinking.

A piece of quick thinking got us out of trouble.

I'd like to know your thinking on this.

What is the current thinking on the subject?

Adjective

Chess is a thinking man's game.

it's surprising to find thinking people who believe such nonsense

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Others fall into zero-sum thinking about resources and an increasingly competitive labor market. —Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2026

Putting the murder shortlist in one person’s hands, rather than letting the shields do the work of specifying who can be killed off, is a major change that gives the Secret Traitor a ton of power without a ton of explanation for their thinking. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2026

Adjective

Humor can release the writer from values of the past, along with judgment and disapproval, and instead, humor can become the very conduit for re-thinking events. —Literary Hub, 14 Nov. 2025

Nibert loved the free-thinking spirit of the village and its college. —Keith Bierygolick, Cincinnati.com, 28 Aug. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1605, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing thinking

• critical thinking
• deceive oneself into thinking
• forward-thinking
• lateral thinking
• put one's thinking cap on
• put on one's thinking cap
• thinking cap
• to someone's way of thinking
• wishful thinking

Rhymes for thinking

• blinking
• clinking
• drinking
• inking
• kinking
• linking
• shrinking
• sinking
• slinking
• stinking
• winking
• freethinking

Kids Definition

thinking

1 of 2 noun

1

: the action of using one's mind to produce thoughts

2

a

: opinion sense 1, judgment

it is, to my thinking, utter nonsense

b

: thought entry 2 sense 2

the current thinking on the subject

thinking

2 of 2 adjective

: marked by use of the power of thinking

thinking citizens