thinking

thinking — noun

1. the mental work of forming ideas, finding solutions, or deciding between options

1.nounA2
Definition

the mental work of forming ideas, finding solutions, or deciding between options

Example

Minh sat quietly, deep in thought, doing some serious thinking about his career options.

collocation: deep in thought / serious thinking

Creative thinking is an essential skill for anyone working in design or marketing.

adjective + thinking: creative / critical / careful

Common collocations
  • deep thinking
  • critical thinking
  • careful thinking
  • creative thinking
  • independent thinking
Synonyms
  • thought

    more abstract or refers to a single idea; 'thinking' emphasises the active process

  • reasoning

    more formal and logical; implies step-by-step deduction rather than open-ended reflection

  • contemplation

    slower, deeper, often with a spiritual or meditative quality

2. a person's set of opinions or the reasons they have for believing something

2.nounB1
Definition

a person's set of opinions or the reasons they have for believing something

Example

Isabela shared her thinking on the new policy during the staff meeting.

possessive: her thinking on [topic]

Could you explain your thinking behind the decision to close the branch office?

pattern: thinking behind [decision]

Common collocations
  • thinking on
  • thinking about
  • thinking behind
  • my thinking
  • their thinking
Synonyms
  • view

    a single opinion rather than a full line of reasoning

  • outlook

    a broader, more general attitude rather than issue-specific reasoning

  • reasoning

    more formal; emphasises the logical structure behind a conclusion

Usage Note

Commonly appears with possessive determiners (my, her, their) and prepositions on, about, or behind to introduce the topic.

Common Mistakes

I need to hear your thinkings on this.
I need to hear your thinking on this.
'thinking' is uncountable and has no plural form.

3. a widely held idea or belief among a particular group of people about a subject

3.nounB2
Definition

a widely held idea or belief among a particular group of people about a subject

Example

The current thinking among nutritionists is that whole foods are better than supplements.

pattern: current thinking + that-clause

Modern thinking in education favours project-based learning over rote memorisation.

adjective + thinking in [field]

Common collocations
  • current thinking
  • modern thinking
  • traditional thinking
  • conventional thinking
  • thinking is that
Synonyms
  • belief

    more personal and less tied to a collective perspective

  • doctrine

    more formal and institutional; implies a fixed system

  • school of thought

    a full intellectual tradition rather than a single belief

Grammar Patterns

the/current thinking + that-clause

Usage Note

Mostly used with adjectives like current, modern, traditional, conventional, or latest. The that-clause construction is especially common in academic and professional writing. Distinct from sense 2 in that it describes a shared, group-level view rather than an individual's opinion.

Idioms

to my way of thinking

idiom

This phrase is used to express your personal opinion about something.

To my way of thinking, the new policy will help our team.

Is this plan fair to everyone, to your way of thinking?

thinking — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While all four words describe mental activity, they differ in how they frame the process. Thinking is the broadest, most neutral term — it covers everything from quick everyday decisions to deep problem-solving. Thought can mean the same as thinking (as in 'lost in thought') but often refers to a single idea or concept rather than the ongoing process. Reasoning is more structured and logical: when you reason, you move step by step from evidence to a conclusion, which makes it common in academic and legal contexts. Contemplation suggests slow, sustained attention, often on something profound or spiritual — you contemplate a mystery but think about what to have for dinner. Reflection is slightly less formal than contemplation and implies looking back at something ('on reflection, I was wrong') rather than forward exploration. For everyday use, thinking and thought are your safest choices; save reasoning for formal arguments, contemplation for deep quiet moments, and reflection for revisiting past events.

thoughtreasoning ↗contemplation ↗reflection ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • way of thinking
  • line of thinking
  • school of thinking
  • mode of thinking

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word thinking comes from the Old English verb þencan (to think, to consider, to remember), which traces back to the Proto-Germanic *thankjan. Its noun form emerged in Middle English as thenking or thinging during the 13th century, originally referring to the act of forming thoughts. The adjective use — meaning 'intelligent or rational' — did not appear until the 14th century, when it described a person capable of reasoned thought.