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 To remain relevant, rising software developers should think like a CEO more than a CIO, knowing the sector the business operates in and staying on top of developments and trends in that sector. — Alberto Lugo, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 Also think about what happens if someone cuts the power or the neighborhood has an outage. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026 Within the 350-hectare Tanjung Kelayang Reserve, which lines the coast, two green-thinking hotels have been built within its grounds. — Claire Turrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026 The Hunga caldera is thought to have collapsed even as the volcano was erupting. — Yook Ji Hun, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for think
Recent Examples of Synonyms for think
Verb
  • The Kohs and their friends believe schooling is a route to class ascension.
    — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Psychologists have long documented what happens when people believe they are being watched.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The variation is significant enough that guessing isn’t a great strategy.
    — Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Kids guess, get things wrong, try again, argue about why and eventually figure something out.
    — Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Before saying yes, imagine the ordinary version of the opportunity, not just the exciting announcement.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The 10-year-old who started The Cote News isn’t ready to stop seeing a blank page and imagining how to fill it with the right words, with stories, with humor and with heart.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • With a luxe crocodile-embossed suede upper and a slight heel that adds just enough height without weighing you down, these loafers deliver a high-end look—despite being considered orthopedic.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Last year, a National School Choice Awareness Foundation survey found that 60 percent of parents have considered switching schools for their children, with many exploring models beyond traditional brick-and-mortar schools.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The clues that Swift’s ghost is leaving for Johnson still aren’t really hitting until Johnson’s character starts feeling the effects of the literal poison being fed to her in her coffee and wine and realizes this man may be bad.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
  • His new novel, Vigil, tells the story of an angel tasked with helping a billionaire feel a degree of remorse for his actions before crossing over.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Think.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/think. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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