thoughtful

adjective

thought·​ful ˈthȯt-fəl 

1

a

: absorbed in thought : meditative

b

: characterized by careful reasoned thinking

a thoughtful essay

2

a

: having thoughts : heedful

became thoughtful about religion

b

: given to or chosen or made with heedful anticipation of the needs and wants of others

a kind and thoughtful friend

thoughtfully

ˈthȯt-fə-lē 

adverb

thoughtfulness noun

Synonyms of thoughtful

• attentive
• kind
• caring
• respectful
• considerate

Examples of thoughtful in a Sentence

She looked at me with a thoughtful expression.

He looked thoughtful for a moment.

Her husband is always thoughtful.

That's very thoughtful of you.

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the years, Lucas and his wife have transformed the space from a simple above-ground pool into a backyard destination complete with thoughtful upgrades and finishing touches. —Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 20 June 2026

Following a premiere in the international narrative competition at Tribeca, Sanders’ thoroughly accessible, audience-friendly film should be a popular selection on the fest circuit, and merits thoughtful handling by inclusivity-minded distributors. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 June 2026

The tech-versus-toys angle lands hard with parents and older Gen Z, creating a surprisingly thoughtful emotional hook instead of just nostalgia bait. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 19 June 2026

To upgrade the experience, luxury hotels and resorts are reimagining the family experience with more thoughtful design, moving beyond basic kids’ clubs to create programming, spaces and itineraries that feel tailored for everyone in your group. —Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

thoughtful

adjective

thought·​ful ˈthȯt-fəl 

1

a

: lost in thought

b

: marked by careful thinking

a thoughtful essay

2

: considerate of the needs of others

a kind and thoughtful friend

thoughtfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

thoughtfulness noun