1
: something formed in the mind: such as
a
: an individual act or product of thinking : idea
Do you have any thoughts on the subject?
I just had a thought. = A thought just occurred to me.
Never mind. It was just a thought.
It's a good thought.
My first thought was that she misunderstood.
see also second thought
b
: a developed intention or plan
had no thought of leaving home
c
: something (such as an opinion or belief) in the mind
He spoke his thoughts freely.
Please share your thoughts in the comments section.
d
: the intellectual product or the organized views and principles of a period, place, group, or individual
contemporary Western thought
There are two schools of thought on the subject.
2
a
: the action or process of thinking : cogitation
deep in thought
explained the thought process behind the decision
ways to change negative thought patterns
b
: serious consideration : regard
I'll give the idea some thought.
They put a lot of thought into it.
You've given us food for thought. [=things to consider carefully]
c
: sympathetic consideration of the feelings, opinions, and circumstances of others
He has no thought for anyone but himself.
Our thoughts are with you [=we are thinking of you and wishing you well] during this difficult time.
3
a
: reasoning power
b
: the power to imagine : conception
4
archaic
: recollection, remembrance
thought
2 of 2past tense and past participle of think
Examples of thought in a Sentence
Noun
He could easily have held the audience for a one-hour answer that ranged from his thoughts on jazz to his soap-opera career playing gangsters …
—
Calvin Trillin, Nation, 28 May 2007
… thoughts expressed while sitting alone at the keyboard would be put more diplomatically—or go unmentioned—face to face.
—Daniel Goleman, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2007
Yes, well don't forget, sir, we're viewing this with twenty-twenty hindsight, but at the time no one gave a thought to geckos or what they ate—they were just another fact of life in the tropics.
—T. Coraghessan Boyle, Harper's, April 1993
My first thought was that something must have changed.
The thought of leaving never crossed my mind.
Do you have any thoughts about the subject?
She abandoned all thoughts of going home.
It was just a thought.
She was lost in thought.
She abandoned all thought of going home.
They should have put more thought into the proposal.
While you're enjoying the holidays, you should spare a thought for those who are less fortunate.
He has no thought for anyone but himself.
Calvin Trillin, Nation, 28 May 2007
… thoughts expressed while sitting alone at the keyboard would be put more diplomatically—or go unmentioned—face to face.
—Daniel Goleman, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2007
Yes, well don't forget, sir, we're viewing this with twenty-twenty hindsight, but at the time no one gave a thought to geckos or what they ate—they were just another fact of life in the tropics.
—T. Coraghessan Boyle, Harper's, April 1993
My first thought was that something must have changed.
The thought of leaving never crossed my mind.
Do you have any thoughts about the subject?
She abandoned all thoughts of going home.
It was just a thought.
She was lost in thought.
She abandoned all thought of going home.
They should have put more thought into the proposal.
While you're enjoying the holidays, you should spare a thought for those who are less fortunate.
He has no thought for anyone but himself.
Recent Examples on the Web
Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Those are the real thoughts and conversations these controllers are having.
—ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
Few consumers relish the thought of reading a credit report, shopping for car insurance or parsing a bank statement.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
But as Toronto’s lead slipped away, after allowing back-breaking homers in the eighth, ninth and 11th innings, those warm thoughts receded.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thought
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.
Noun
Or is there some other thought process?
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Those are the real thoughts and conversations these controllers are having.
—ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
Few consumers relish the thought of reading a credit report, shopping for car insurance or parsing a bank statement.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
But as Toronto’s lead slipped away, after allowing back-breaking homers in the eighth, ninth and 11th innings, those warm thoughts receded.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thought
Cite this Entry
“Thought.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thought. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thought
1 of 2past and past participle of think
thought
2 of 2 noun1
: the act or process of thinking
2
: serious consideration : careful attention
give thought to the future
3
: power of thinking and especially of reasoning and judging
4
: power of imagining
beauty beyond thought
5
: a product of thinking (as an idea, fancy, or invention)
share your thoughts with us
Medical Definition
thought
noun1
a
: the action or process of thinking
b
: serious consideration
2
a
: reasoning power
b
: the power to imagine : conception
3
: something that is thought: as
a
: an individual act or product of thinking
b
: a developed intention or plan
he had no thought of leaving home
c
: something (as an opinion or belief) in the mind
she spoke her thoughts freely
d
: the intellectual product or the organized views and principles of a period, place, group, or individual
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