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Definition of thinknext

think (about or over)

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verb (2)

think (of)

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verb (3)

think (up)

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verb (4)

thinker

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noun

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
Verb
Why Brad Neely thinks artists should embrace errors. Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026 To be sure, Scott Rubner of Citadel Securities thinks the backdrop remains favorable for stocks, as most corporate blackout periods end and companies can issue buybacks. Fred Imbert, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
There was Michael Govan, a true intellectual, Zen thinker, movie star handsome, and under consideration to run LACMA. Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026 Yet while there was much Latin American anti-imperialist thinkers could agree on, there were also profound divergences between them. Tony Wood, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for think
Recent Examples of Synonyms for think
Noun
  • Three years ago, this selection might have looked like genius.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The Spurs’ two youngest players made their coach look like a genius.
    Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • This white chocolate bar is creamy and ultra-sweet, and the great minds at TJ’s were smart to distract from the one-note flavor with crunchy little cookie crumbles.
    Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Apr. 2026
  • By evening, disruptive Uranus enters your 9th House of Higher Learning and Beliefs, opening your mind to new perspectives, ideas, and possibilities.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That won't mean much to most gamers or even most PC enthusiasts, but for memory-tuning wizards like 1usmus, more levers to pull in overclocking and timing adjustments may make more capable memory overclocks possible in the future.
    Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Get ready for witches, munchkins and even the wizard.
    Stacey Zable, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Your brain can fill in every little hole because that’s what the brain does.
    Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 22 Apr. 2026
  • We’re taken into the control centre in her brain where her emotions – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness – must navigate her new life.
    Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The Big Bang Theory followed a group of socially awkward scientist friends navigating work, friendship and relationships, with Parsons portraying Sheldon Cooper, a brilliant but eccentric physicist known for his rigid routines, lack of social awareness and sharp intellect.
    Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
  • As one of the nation’s most consequential legal thinkers and scholars, Heather Gerken has long directed her fierce intellect toward defending free and fair elections, a strong civic architecture, and the rule of law.
    Elizabeth Alexander, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There is a scene in the big-budget biopic Michael that perfectly encapsulates Michael Jackson’s historically unfathomable fame and crushing, fragile psyche.
    Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Just the power of this town is incredibly immense, and the ability to tell a story that reaches so far into the psyche and hearts of America.
    Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Rockets head coach Ime Udoka should have his team defending with much more urgency, and Houston’s top frontcourt weapon is also likely to bounce back.
    Geoff Clark OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
  • But first things first, as Jerry and Michael Reinsdorf are busy sifting through candidates for the next head of basketball operations, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who listed several league executives and one super-agent the Reinsdorfs plan to interview.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That’s true, said one former counterterrorism official with direct knowledge of the intelligence involved, but there was more to the story.
    Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 21 Apr. 2026
  • The collaboration connects the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company’s supply chain intelligence platform—which enables brands to map suppliers, manage sourcing data and validate claims—with Trimco’s labeling, packaging and RFID infrastructure.
    Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 21 Apr. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Think.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/think. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.

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