think

Q: Is it correct to say "I will think about it for a long"?

No — say "I will have a long think about it". When used as a noun, 'think' requires a supporting verb like 'have' or 'give' rather than standing alone as a duration.

n. countable

A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈθɪŋk// UK //θˈɪŋk// think

General-service Informal

n. a period of time spent considering something or trying to solve a problem. You usually use it when you need to make a decision but want to be careful first.

n. an act or period of concentrated thought or consideration. Informal in register; frequently occurs as the object of the verb 'have'.

SIMPLE

I need to have a think about your suggestion.

CONTEXTUAL

Before we sign the contract, I would like to go home and have a quiet think about the terms.

COMPLEX

While the proposal seems sound on the surface, the board requires a long think to evaluate the potential long-term risks to our reputation.

Synonyms

Antonyms

forget

Etymology 1

From Middle English thinken, thynken, thenken, thenchen, from Old English þenċan, from Proto-West Germanic þankijan, from Proto-Germanic þankijaną (“to think”), from Proto-Indo-European *teng- (“to think, feel, know”). Cognate with Scots think, thynk (“to think”), North Frisian teenk, taanke, tanke, tånke (“to think”), Saterland Frisian toanke (“to think”), West Frisian tinke (“to think”), Dutch denken, dinken (“to think”), Afrikaans dink (“to think”), Low German denken, dinken (“to think”), German denken (“to think”), Danish tænke (“to think”), Swedish tänka (“to think”), Norwegian Bokmål tenke (“to think”), Norwegian Nynorsk tenkja (“to think”), Icelandic þekkja (“to know, recognise, identify, perceive”), Latin tongeō (“know”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English thinken, thynken, thenken (also thinchen, thünchen), from Old English þyncan (“to seem, appear”), from Proto-Germanic *þunkijaną (“to seem”). Cognate with Dutch dunken (“to seem, appear”), German dünken (“to seem, appear”), Danish tykkes (“to seem”), Swedish tycka (“to seem, think, regard”), Icelandic þykja (“to be regarded, be considered, seem”). More at methinks.

Usage

Commonly used in the phrase 'have a think'; it is almost always preceded by the indefinite article 'a'.

Pitfall

I will think about it for a longI will have a long think about itWhen used as a noun, 'think' requires a supporting verb like 'have' or 'give' rather than standing alone as a duration.

Idioms20 entries