1
: something that is thought: such as
a
: an individual act or product of thinking
b
: a developed intention or plan
had no thought of leaving home
c
: something (such as an opinion or belief) in the mind
he spoke his thoughts freely
d
: the intellectual product or the organized views and principles of a period, place, group, or individual
contemporary Western thought
2
a
: the action or process of thinking : cogitation
b
: serious consideration : regard
c
archaic
: recollection, remembrance
3
a
: reasoning power
b
: the power to imagine : conception
thought
2 of 2past tense and past participle of think
Synonyms
Examples of thought in a Sentence
Noun
He could easily have held the audience for a one-hour answer that ranged from his thoughts on jazz to his soap-opera career playing gangsters …
—
Calvin Trillin, Nation, 28 May 2007
… thoughts expressed while sitting alone at the keyboard would be put more diplomatically—or go unmentioned—face to face.
—Daniel Goleman, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2007
Yes, well don't forget, sir, we're viewing this with twenty-twenty hindsight, but at the time no one gave a thought to geckos or what they ate—they were just another fact of life in the tropics.
—T. Coraghessan Boyle, Harper's, April 1993
My first thought was that something must have changed.
The thought of leaving never crossed my mind.
Do you have any thoughts about the subject?
She abandoned all thoughts of going home.
It was just a thought.
She was lost in thought.
She abandoned all thought of going home.
They should have put more thought into the proposal.
While you're enjoying the holidays, you should spare a thought for those who are less fortunate.
He has no thought for anyone but himself.
Calvin Trillin, Nation, 28 May 2007
… thoughts expressed while sitting alone at the keyboard would be put more diplomatically—or go unmentioned—face to face.
—Daniel Goleman, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2007
Yes, well don't forget, sir, we're viewing this with twenty-twenty hindsight, but at the time no one gave a thought to geckos or what they ate—they were just another fact of life in the tropics.
—T. Coraghessan Boyle, Harper's, April 1993
My first thought was that something must have changed.
The thought of leaving never crossed my mind.
Do you have any thoughts about the subject?
She abandoned all thoughts of going home.
It was just a thought.
She was lost in thought.
She abandoned all thought of going home.
They should have put more thought into the proposal.
While you're enjoying the holidays, you should spare a thought for those who are less fortunate.
He has no thought for anyone but himself.
Recent Examples on the Web
Fiona Tapp, Parents, 18 Dec. 2024
Entrepreneurs and business leaders are frequently inspired by a transformational idea, sometimes through their own thoughts but frequently borrowed from another business or sector.
—Aidan Connolly, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Some quick thoughts off a rousing comeback victory over the league-leading Capitals:
• Thirty-eight minutes into this one, the Capitals had just seven shots on goal.
—Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, 18 Dec. 2024
This thought experiment can't be replicated in the real world, since plastic pollution is so ubiquitous.
—Will Stone, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thought 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Nurture their confidence Encourage your Capricorn child to express themselves and communicate their thoughts and feelings.
—Fiona Tapp, Parents, 18 Dec. 2024
Entrepreneurs and business leaders are frequently inspired by a transformational idea, sometimes through their own thoughts but frequently borrowed from another business or sector.
—Aidan Connolly, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Some quick thoughts off a rousing comeback victory over the league-leading Capitals:
• Thirty-eight minutes into this one, the Capitals had just seven shots on goal.
—Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, 18 Dec. 2024
This thought experiment can't be replicated in the real world, since plastic pollution is so ubiquitous.
—Will Stone, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thought
Dictionary Entries Near thought
Cite this Entry
“Thought.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thought. Accessed 28 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thought
1 of 2past and past participle of think
thought
2 of 2 noun1
: the act or process of thinking
2
: serious consideration : careful attention
give thought to the future
3
: power of thinking and especially of reasoning and judging
4
: power of imagining
beauty beyond thought
5
: a product of thinking (as an idea, fancy, or invention)
share your thoughts with us
Medical Definition
thought
noun1
a
: the action or process of thinking
b
: serious consideration
2
a
: reasoning power
b
: the power to imagine : conception
3
: something that is thought: as
a
: an individual act or product of thinking
b
: a developed intention or plan
he had no thought of leaving home
c
: something (as an opinion or belief) in the mind
she spoke her thoughts freely
d
: the intellectual product or the organized views and principles of a period, place, group, or individual
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