thinker
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a person who thinks deeply about important subjects like philosophy, politics, or science.
an individual characterised by serious intellectual activity, such as a philosopher, theologian, or academic theorist.
Simple“She was known as a great thinker who changed how people viewed the world.”
In context“The university hosted a symposium for leading thinkers to discuss the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in modern society.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
someone who spends a lot of time considering their own thoughts or ideas.
one who engages in the act of contemplation, meditation, or reflection.
Simple“He was a quiet thinker who preferred to listen before speaking his mind.”
In context“Even as a child, he was a deep thinker, often found staring out the window lost in his own imagination.”
Synonymscontemplatormuser - 03 C1 Advanced
a casual way to talk about your brain or your mind.
the brain or the seat of intellect. Used as a colloquial substitute for the physical or functional mind.
Simple“Use your thinker and see if you can solve this puzzle.”
In context“After a long day of complex calculations, he felt like his thinker was completely fried.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
a question or problem that is very hard to answer and requires a lot of thought.
a difficult question, puzzle, or conundrum that necessitates significant cognitive effort to resolve.
Simple“That last question on the math test was a real thinker.”
In context“The riddle the old man posed was a real thinker, keeping the group occupied for the entire journey.”
“He is an irrepressible talent and a deep thinker.”
“Thinkers from Plato to Maria Montessori have championed play as one of the most powerful ways that young children learn and grow.”
From Middle English thinkere, equivalent to think + -er. Compare West Frisian tinker (“thinker”), Dutch denker (“thinker”), German Denker (“thinker”), Danish tænker (“thinker”), Swedish tänkare (“thinker”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.