# methinks

/miːθˈɪŋks/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/methinks
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

a very old-fashioned way of saying 'I think'. You use it to sound like you are speaking in an old story or a Shakespeare play.

For teachers: an archaic first-person singular form of 'think'. Used primarily in literary or historical contexts to evoke a medieval or Elizabethan style of speech.

## Examples

- Methinks the weather is turning cold.
- In the play, the character says, 'Methinks the wind is rising', to show he is worried about the storm.
- The author employs archaic constructions like 'methinks' to immerse the reader in a world where the language of the past feels entirely natural and immediate.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.