Meaning & use
thoughtful
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Caring about others and showing it through kind, well-considered actions.
Grammar: Often followed by of: thoughtful of you.
Patterns
- thoughtful of someone to do something
- thoughtful about something
It was thoughtful of you to call.
She sent a thoughtful note after the surgery.
He is a thoughtful host.
adjectivecomparable
Showing serious, careful thinking.
Grammar: Before a noun or after a verb: a thoughtful essay.
Patterns
- thoughtful discussion
The report offers a thoughtful analysis.
She gave a thoughtful answer.
adjectivecomparable
Quiet and absorbed in thought.
Grammar: Describes a look or mood.
Patterns
- thoughtful look
He looked thoughtful as he stared out the window.
A thoughtful silence followed.
Word forms
| comparative | more thoughtful |
|---|---|
| superlative | most thoughtful |
Common combinations
- thoughtful gift
- A thoughtful gift made her smile.
- thoughtful of you
- That's thoughtful of you.
- thoughtful gesture
- A thoughtful gesture.
- thoughtful analysis
- The article was thoughtful.
- thoughtfully
- She nodded thoughtfully.
Synonyms and how they differ
- considerate
- Focuses on respect for others' feelings.
- kind
- Broader and not necessarily planned.
- pensive
- Stresses quiet reflection only.
Opposites
Word family
- thoughtfully adverb
- in a caring or reflective way
- thoughtfulness noun
- care for others
- thoughtless adjective
- not thinking of others
Commonly confused: thoughtful or thoughtless?
thoughtful vs thoughtless
Thoughtless is the opposite, careless of others.
Practice
It was very ___ of her to remember my birthday.
Choose one answer.
Thoughtful of means considerate. Thoughtless would be the opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “thoughtful”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.