thinking 1 of 3

Definition of thinkingnext

thinking

2 of 3

noun

thinking

3 of 3

verb

present participle of think

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 thinking
Adjective
Credit Gus Malzahn for being proactive and thinking long-term in choosing his starting quarterback. — Creg Stephenson | [email protected], al, 22 Aug. 2019 The quick-thinking team administrator came up with a solution – flag down a tour bus. — Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 25 June 2018
Noun
What was the thinking behind floating Katie’s name as a Traitor? — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2026 The missions also require adaptive thinking on the part of the directors and camera teams; Drake sends the field team daily briefs, but for most missions, there might be less than an hour of setup time before cameras roll. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
Another common misconception is thinking length equates to quality. — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026 Super radical, complete break from anything that the physicists had been thinking about or mathematicians had been thinking about. — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thinking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thinking
Adjective
  • Founded by two British academics almost two decades ago, Effective Altruism is a philosophical movement whose core idea is that people should try to use rational processes to do the most good for the most people in the world.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026
  • This is not to impugn the nobility of counting, of the close and careful observation of nature, of the rational, ordered efforts to understand it.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • An on-site spa and an extensive complimentary wellness program include daily yoga, Pilates, meditation, strength training, sound healing, and wellness workshops, but participation is entirely optional.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Upstairs, the primary bedroom suite includes a walk-in closet, a bathroom with a separate tub and shower, a meditation area and access to a view deck.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The plan at the center of the 2022 WWII movie Operation Mincemeat is to mislead the Axis forces into believing that the Allies will invade Greece rather than Sicily.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026
  • A day will surely dawn when those who sought refuge in the long shadow of American bullying—believing that mimicking the language of the mighty could shield them from the claws of power—will stand bare before the truth.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • By providing 24/7 availability and intelligent routing, AI contact centers can help reduce wait times, improve access and ensure no call for help goes unanswered.
    — Sameer Bhat, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • With every whimper, sigh, howl, bark and head tilt, these dogs create an empathetic portrayal of a highly intelligent creature that has been through battle and has the scars (and nightmares) to prove it.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • What interests me in Zumthor’s architecture is not simply beauty or contemplation.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Yet Na also insists on treating his aliens as objects of contemplation and pathos—reflections of our own misshapen humanity.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In another moment sure to keep fans guessing, Neal leaves Joe a note — the contents of which are not revealed to the audience.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The variation is significant enough that guessing isn’t a great strategy.
    — Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • With exceptional performances from the entire cast and homages to musical legends like Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson, Bioh and White present a reflection of the Black female experience in all of its dazzling idiosyncrasies, triumphs and pains.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The geometry of order The research team aimed to investigate how combining these non-standard reflection properties with an asymmetrical cavity reshapes wave dynamics.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The campaign is demanding that the TV station stop airing the ad in its current form and is considering legal action if no action is taken.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • With plenty to build on considering the way running back Kenneth Walker III’s presence in the backfield is creating crucial dilemmas for opposing defenses that for too long have been able to just predicate everything on stopping Mahomes.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Thinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thinking. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on thinking

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster