Meaning & use
pensive
Deeply or dreamily thoughtful, often with a hint of sadness or worry.
See it in a sentence
She stared out the train window with a pensive expression, lost in thought.
His pensive mood lasted the entire drive home after the difficult meeting.
A note on using this word
Suggests quiet, inward thinking rather than active problem-solving; often paired with mood or expression.
Words with a similar meaning
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