Examples of thought experiment in a Sentence
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Einstein’s Train-and-Embankment Thought Experiment In the 20th century, thought experiments played a key role in defining a physics revolution.
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Kat Friedrich, Popular Mechanics, 25 July 2023
Why Trust Us? Twenty years ago, a young artificial intelligence researcher named Eliezer Yudkowsky ran a series of low-stakes thought experiments with fellow researchers on internet relay chat servers.
—Popular Mechanics, 13 June 2023
More than 100 technical publications exist on this puzzle, and almost every person who hears about the Sleeping Beauty thought experiment develops their own strong opinion.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 4 May 2023
But some ideas are, for now, only thought experiments: a result, many say, of political gridlock and policy inertia.
—Talmon Joseph Smith, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2023
And that thought experiment will prepare them for a lifetime of success, influence, and positive reflection on you.
—Carrie McCrossen, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2022
Twilight finale and thought experiment Breaking Dawn sold 1.3 million copies in its first day, while the Fifty Shades spinoff Grey moved 1.1 million copies in its first four days.
—Vulture, 25 Oct. 2022
That’s an interesting thought experiment, given the ongoing debate over the fate of California’s Diablo Canyon nuclear plant and similar facilities around the country.
—Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022
This clever thought experiment launched an entire field of research, connecting information to energy.
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 22 Nov. 2010
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Kat Friedrich, Popular Mechanics, 25 July 2023
Why Trust Us? Twenty years ago, a young artificial intelligence researcher named Eliezer Yudkowsky ran a series of low-stakes thought experiments with fellow researchers on internet relay chat servers.
—Popular Mechanics, 13 June 2023
More than 100 technical publications exist on this puzzle, and almost every person who hears about the Sleeping Beauty thought experiment develops their own strong opinion.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 4 May 2023
But some ideas are, for now, only thought experiments: a result, many say, of political gridlock and policy inertia.
—Talmon Joseph Smith, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2023
And that thought experiment will prepare them for a lifetime of success, influence, and positive reflection on you.
—Carrie McCrossen, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2022
Twilight finale and thought experiment Breaking Dawn sold 1.3 million copies in its first day, while the Fifty Shades spinoff Grey moved 1.1 million copies in its first four days.
—Vulture, 25 Oct. 2022
That’s an interesting thought experiment, given the ongoing debate over the fate of California’s Diablo Canyon nuclear plant and similar facilities around the country.
—Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022
This clever thought experiment launched an entire field of research, connecting information to energy.
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 22 Nov. 2010
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thought experiment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1854, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of thought experiment was
in 1854
Dictionary Entries Near thought experiment
Cite this Entry
“Thought experiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thought%20experiment. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about thought experiment
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