Definition of thinknext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word think distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of think are conceive, envisage, envision, fancy, imagine, and realize. While all these words mean "to form an idea of," think implies the entrance of an idea into one's mind with or without deliberate consideration or reflection.

I just thought of a good joke

When is it sensible to use conceive instead of think?

Although the words conceive and think have much in common, conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.

conceived of a new marketing approach

How do envisage and envision relate to one another, in the sense of think?

Both envisage and envision imply a conceiving or imagining that is especially clear or detailed.

envisaged a totally computerized operation
envisioned a cure for the disease

When is fancy a more appropriate choice than think?

The synonyms fancy and think are sometimes interchangeable, but fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

When might imagine be a better fit than think?

The words imagine and think can be used in similar contexts, but imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When can realize be used instead of think?

In some situations, the words realize and think are roughly equivalent. However, realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

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 think No one who has listened to this episode of Dwarkesh Patel's podcast with METR research Ajeya Cotra could think so. Kelly Evans, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026 That is not the only way philosophers throughout history have thought about flowing time. Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026 Cook actually thinks that Washington should have three arches. Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026 There was severe trauma to her face that investigators think may have been caused by a gunshot wound, according to a search warrant affidavit obtained by Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for think
Recent Examples of Synonyms for think
Verb
  • Flowers, who has been sidelined from practice in recent days, is believed to be dealing with a minor hamstring injury.
    Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Lamas claimed that Jackie believed that there was a link between her husband’s death and that of Marilyn Monroe, who died in 1962.
    Lara Walsh, InStyle, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Tom Even non-football fans can probably guess who this one is about.
    Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Instead of guessing the right prompt keywords, a user can simply instruct the model to track the camera left, soften the lighting or maintain a character's expression across different scenes.
    Coco Mao, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • And the remarkable part of this entire sequence is that at least two characters are actively imagining uses for the box that will compromise the experiment.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • One can only imagine what that iPad has looked like in the past few days.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • After Sunday’s game, manager John Schneider indicated the club was still considering all options.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Asked about the cause of the capsize, Erhurman noted the storm, but said the weather was considered suitable for travel.
    Reuters, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Still, there’s something about going back to basics at the dawn of a new season that feels especially right.
    Laura Jackson, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Bengals cut the roster down to 53 players on Sunday and there weren’t many surprises in a year where continuity and depth made only a few spots truly feel open to unseating the placeholder.
    Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Think.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/think. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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