thought 1 of 2

noun

ˈthȯt How to pronounce thought (audio)
Definition of thoughtnext
1
as in idea
something imagined or pictured in the mind I just had a thought: what if we both pitched in and bought him one big present instead of two smaller presents for his birthday?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in consideration
a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something I'll give your request some thought and then let you know what my decision is

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

thought

2 of 2

verb

past tense of think
as in believed
to have as an opinion I think we should wait for someone to come help us out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun thought contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of thought are conception, concept, idea, impression, and notion. While all these words mean "what exists in the mind as a representation (as of something comprehended) or as a formulation (as of a plan)," thought is likely to suggest the result of reflecting, reasoning, or meditating rather than of imagining.

commit your thoughts to paper

When might concept be a better fit than thought?

The words concept and thought are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, concept may apply to the idea formed by consideration of instances of a species or genus or, more broadly, to any idea of what a thing ought to be.

a society with no concept of private property

How do conception and concept relate to one another, in the sense of thought?

Conception is often interchangeable with concept; it may stress the process of imagining or formulating rather than the result.

our changing conception of what constitutes art

When is it sensible to use idea instead of thought?

Although the words idea and thought have much in common, idea may apply to a mental image or formulation of something seen or known or imagined, to a pure abstraction, or to something assumed or vaguely sensed.

innovative ideas
my idea of paradise

When would impression be a good substitute for thought?

The synonyms impression and thought are sometimes interchangeable, but impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.

the first impression is of soaring height

In what contexts can notion take the place of thought?

While in some cases nearly identical to thought, notion suggests an idea not much resolved by analysis or reflection and may suggest the capricious or accidental.

you have the oddest notions

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 thought
Noun
And the very thought of chucking a book into the garbage simply because of its unsightly cover, or lack thereof, is a cardinal sin. —Peter Wortsman july 14, Literary Hub, 14 July 2025 Drop a comment with your thoughts, including your wildest theories and predictions about his character, below. —Andy Swift, TVLine, 14 July 2025
Verb
Some of the rules, like only having one serve, should also give tennis pause for thought about whether there are elements of UTS that would work well on the main tour. —Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024 The system as envisioned in the First Amendment, that the government cannot interfere with the freedom of the press, is working precisely as the Founders thought. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for thought
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thought
  1. idea
  2. consideration
  3. believed
  4. concept
  5. deliberation
  6. guessed
  7. impression
  8. notion
Noun
  • Send ideas and tips to [email protected].
    — Arlyssa D. Becenti, AZCentral.com, 23 July 2025
  • What does the heat index chart look like? To get an idea of how air temperatures and humidity levels produce apparent temperatures, here is the NWS' heat index chart.
    — Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 23 July 2025
Definition of idea
Noun
  • Whether individual owners can capitalize on these opportunities depends on their specific circumstances and business approach, but the industry trends and financial data make a compelling case for serious consideration.
    — Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 23 July 2025
  • The high court ruled unanimously Davis' case can proceed, remanding it back to Wayne County Circuit Court for consideration.
    — Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 23 July 2025
Definition of consideration
Verb
  • Nobody would’ve believed that, right?
    — Anthony Slater, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025
  • Israel says as many as half of them are believed to be dead.
    — Daniel Estrin, NPR, 15 Feb. 2025
Definition of believed
Noun
  • One of the biggest challenges Pavone faced after launching was educating the consumer around this new concept.
    — Yola Robert, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • The new concept comes six months after the owner of Explorium Brewing purchased Good City Brewing's four locations and its brands.
    — Jordyn Noennig, jsonline.com, 14 July 2025
Definition of concept
Noun
  • After only a few hours of deliberation, the jury ruled in Hogan’s favor, awarding him $115 million in compensatory damages and an additional $25 million in punitive damages, for a total of $140 million.
    — Chris Morris, Fortune, 24 July 2025
  • In its deliberations, the court was asked to answer two questions: What obligations do states have to ensure the protection of the climate for present and future generations?
    — Simmone Shah, Time, 23 July 2025
Definition of deliberation
Verb
  • Robin Thicke guessed Lori Loughlin.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Although these participants guessed that about half of their leaders were climate-change deniers, only about 10 percent truly fell into that category, per the study.
    — Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of guessed
Noun
  • Older people often bring up how the U.S. helped Kosovo, and that left a strong impression.
    — Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
  • Twenty-seven years ago, Armageddon benefited from a marketing campaign that left a lasting impression.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2025
Definition of impression
Noun
  • The franchise’s purchase by Disney in 2012 likely subconsciously reinforced the notion that Star Wars is popcorn, family entertainment, not the meaty material that wins acting awards.
    — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 23 July 2025
  • Her investment also challenges the outdated notion that celebrity partnerships are purely transactional.
    — Corein Carter, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Definition of notion

Phrases Containing thought

Browse Nearby Words

though
thought
thought (about or over)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thought. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on thought

Nglish: Translation of thought for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about thought

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All