see also
4 \
believe/ not believe
to think about something
think /fligk/ [u Ij to use your mind in order to solve a problem, remember something, make a decision etc: "Are you going to accept their offer?" "I'm not sure, f need more time to think." + about She thought about Harry and how kind he'd been. think carefully Think carefully before you answer her letter. think hard (=think a lot about something important) We need to think hard about what we're going to do in the future.
thinking - thought - have thought
consider /кэп std9r [y j] to think about something carefully before deciding what to do: Before buying a car you should consider the cost of insuring it. consider doing sth Have you considered working as a journalist?
A
Don't say 'they're consideringt to sell their house'. Say they're considering selling their house
77 4
think over /Oirjk '30V3r, [phrasal verb T] to think carefully about an idea, suggestion, or offer before deciding what to do think sth over I just need a few days to think it over before I reply. think over sth Tve been thinking over what you said and you're absolutely right.
to think carefully about what you are doing
pay attention /pel 9tenpn< to think
carefully about what you are doing, so that you do not make any mistakes + to If you had been paying more attention to your driving, the accident would never have happened. I The teacher said I needed to pay attention to
spelling.
concentrate >kons<?ntreit||'ka:n-/ [и I] to think very carefully about something that you are doing, and not allow yourself to be interrupted or to think about anything else: Turn that music down, please - I'm trying to concentrate. + on Katie was too upset to concentrate on her book.
concentration /(kons^'trei;<m||,ka:n- [n
U] the ability to think about something carefully for a long time: The job requires a lot of concentration, and it's best to be in a room on your own. lose concentration It's easy to lose concentration when driving for long distances.
keep your mind on sth ^j:p
mamd nn (sth)' to keep thinking about what you are doing, even though you want to think about something else: Ken was worried about his daughter and found it hard to keep his mind on his work.
to have a particular opinion
think iQlI}k/ [v j]
+ Cthat) I didn't think that the concert was very good. I She thinks I'm crazy to leave this job. I We all thought that the new teacher was very nice. what do you think of sb/sth? (=what is your opinion about them?) What do you think of my new hairstyle?
thinking - thought - have thought
A Don't say 'I am thinking', 'he is thinking' etc. Say I think, he thinks etc: I think it's a very good movie.
believe 'bi'liiv [и T] to have an opinion
that you are sure is right, especially about something important such as life, religion, or politics
+ (that) Some people believe that abortion is wrong. I We believe the rich
Don't say 'I am believing', 'we are
should pay higher taxes.
A
believing' etc. Say I believe, we believe etc.
Q reckon /текэп/ [v TJ spoken to have an opinion about something and say what it is: / think it's quite a good idea - what do you reckon. Peter? + (that) They reckon the French team's better than ours.
to think something is true, but not be sure
think fligk; [v T]
+ (that) / thin к I must have left my wa/- let at work. \ Jim says he thinks there's something wrong with the engine.
thinking - thought - have thought
fee I /fi:l [и T] to have a strong opinion, but one which is based on your feelings rather than on facts
+ (that) Liz s parents feel she isn't old enough to leave home. I I just fee I that I should have helped him more.
Ж
feeling - felt - have felt
Don't say 'I am feeling', 'they are
feeling' etc. Say I feel, they feel etc.
L_
Don't say 'I am thinking', 'he is thinking' etc. Say I think, he thinks etc.
believe bVli:v (u T| to feel almost sure that something is true, because you have information which makes it seem very likely + (that) Scientists now believe that these are the ruins of an ancient temple. I Darwin had believed that humans had evolved from apes and similar animals.
consider /kan'sida'" [и T] formal to have an opinion about something, especially after thinking about it carefully + (that) My client considers that she was unfairly dismissed from her job. consider sth important/necessary, unsuitable etc The doctors considered it too dangerous to operate on him.
regard/see n'gc:rd, si:, [v T] to think that someone or something is a particular kind of person or thing
be regarded/seen as sth Forty years ago television was regarded as a luxury. I America was seen as the lend of opportunity.
regard/see sb as stK She seemed to regard me as an enemy, i She sees herself more as an entertainer than a singer
seeing - saw - have seen
figure lfig3f|]'figj?r [и T) american informal to form an opinion about something, after thinking about the situation for a while + (that) I figured he was loo drunk to drive. I Costello figured that he d better leave before the police arrived. 1 We figure that they must have got in through the back window.
Believe more formal than think.
suspect ss'spekt/ \v T) to think that something is probably true, especially something bad. although you cannot prove it + (that) I suspect she was lying. I She suspected thai he had never really loved
her.
Don't say 'I am suspecting', 'he is suspecting' etc. Say I suspect, he suspects etc.
have a feeling (that) haev э Tislirj
(tot) to think that something is true, although you do not have a definite reason to think this: He had a feeling he'd been there before. I I had a feeling that Ruby didn't really want to talk to me.