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Meaning & use

thought-out

adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˌθɔːt ˈaʊt/
US/ˌθɔːt ˈaʊt/

Meaning

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Carefully planned or considered, with attention to details and possible results.

    Grammar: Usually used with an adverb like 'well', 'carefully', or 'poorly' before it: a well-thought-out plan. Without such an adverb, it can sound incomplete.

    Patterns

    • well-thought-out
    • carefully thought-out
    • poorly thought-out

    The committee presented a well-thought-out proposal that addressed all the concerns.

    Her argument was carefully thought-out and convinced everyone in the room.

    The plan was poorly thought-out, so it failed within a week.

Common combinations

well-thought-out plan
They need a well-thought-out plan before they start building.
carefully thought-out
The essay was carefully thought-out and clearly organized.
poorly thought-out
The poorly thought-out policy caused more problems than it solved.
thought-out strategy
The company's thought-out strategy helped it survive the crisis.

Synonyms and how they differ

planned
Planned means arranged in advance, but it does not necessarily imply careful consideration of details like thought-out does.
considered
Considered means formed after careful thought; it is close to thought-out but often used for opinions rather than plans.
deliberate
Deliberate means done on purpose or after careful thought; it can also mean slow and unhurried, which thought-out does not.

Opposites

hastyimpulsiveunplanned

Commonly confused: thought-out or thoughtful? thought-out or thought through?

thought-out vs thoughtful

Thoughtful means showing care for others or thinking deeply; thought-out specifically means carefully planned or fully considered.

thought-out vs thought through

This is a verb phrase (e.g., 'I thought it through'), while thought-out is an adjective describing a plan or idea.

Practice

Choose the best word to complete the sentence: The project failed because the budget was ___.

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