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 What to read next McPherson thinks the initial quality gain observed in embryos formed after only four hours of microgravity exposure was due to the natural selection process that had occurred, allowing only the fittest sperms to reach the eggs. Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026 Another magma reservoir in the crust, one thought to feed Kolumbo, contracted as its reserves drained away. Quanta Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026 Liakata, though, thinks there’s still something for us humans to do. Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026 Those are questions artists think about all the time. Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for think
Recent Examples of Synonyms for think
Verb
  • Two adults and three children were said to be in serious condition, while three other adults were believed to be in fair condition after they were all taken to nearby hospitals, firefighters said.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which Christians believe occurred three days after his crucifixion, according to the Bible.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Rita Ora guessed Vanessa Carlton, Ken Jeong guessed Lea Michele and Robin Thicke guessed Michelle Branch.
    Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Because of Sterling’s ability, Harvard-Westlake reached the CIF Southern Section Open Division final — a mountaintop no regional pundit would’ve guessed.
    Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Who knows what inventions, ideas or technological feats will be imagined in gyms or on surfboards as these three Southern California teenagers unleash their brain power and love for having fun on the East Coast.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Within half a year, that detail — obsessively imagined, harped on, even — was up for debate again.
    Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • In a 2015 email, when Mead Johnson was considering supplying some of its formula to a researcher for a study, a company neonatologist expressed concern that the results could be spun to make the preemie product look unsafe.
    David Hilzenrath, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
  • At twenty-five cents a pack, they were considered a medium-status brand, still a splurge for most people in China.
    Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Soft, adjustable lighting, outdoor rain showers with peepholes framing the scenery, incredibly comfy poolside daybeds, super-crisp sheets, open-plan bathrooms with capacious closets—everything works, but nothing feels forced or superfluous.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The Charlotte Hornets found the wrong kind of déjà vu Sunday, losing a home game to the Boston Celtics that never really felt close.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Think.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/think. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.

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