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English - Hungarian

thinker

gb/θˈɪŋkɚ/ us/θˈɪŋkɚ/
B1 English
~ 6100
gondolkodó, elgondolkodtató alkotás, agyalós film
NOUN B2
1
gondolkodó B2
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] thinker of/about [topic]
Many see her as one of the most important political thinkers of her generation.
Sokan nemzedéke egyik legfontosabb politikai gondolkodójának tartják.
The course introduces students to major thinkers of the Enlightenment.
A kurzus megismerteti a hallgatókat a felvilágosodás legjelentősebb gondolkodóival.
As a religious thinker, he tried to connect ancient beliefs with modern life.
The book explores how great thinkers have understood freedom.
He is a careful thinker who rarely speaks before he has fully considered a problem.
Learner examples
She is a great thinker in modern science.
Ő a modern tudomány egyik nagy gondolkodója.
We studied different thinkers in our history class.
Történelemórán különböző gondolkodókról tanultunk.
People remember him as a strong and honest thinker.
He is a deep thinker and likes to talk about life and death.
Many thinkers have written about the meaning of happiness.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"He is very thinker"* instead of *"He is a serious/deep thinker"*. Remember that *thinker* is a noun and usually needs an article (a/an) or another determiner. Learners also confuse *thinker* with *thoughtful*; *a thinker* is a person who spends time on ideas, while *a thoughtful person* is kind and cares about others' feelings.
Meaning
person who thinks deeply
Collocations
great thinker |philosophical thinker |political thinker |religious thinker |modern thinker |serious thinker
Synonyms
intellectual (Emphasizes education and involvement with serious ideas, sometimes with a slightly formal tone.) | philosopher (More specific; usually refers to someone who studies or writes about fundamental questions of existence and knowledge.)
Antonyms
non-intellectual (Suggests someone who is not interested in serious ideas or intellectual activities.)
Themes
intellect |education |culture |philosophy |science |arts_entertainment
Definition

A person who often thinks deeply about big ideas and questions.

A person who spends a lot of time considering and analyzing ideas, often in areas such as philosophy, politics, science, or art.

NOUN B1
2
gondolkodó B2
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] thinker
She’s a quick thinker and stays calm in emergencies.
Gyors észjárású, és vészhelyzetekben is nyugodt marad.
The company is looking for creative thinkers who can develop new products.
A cég olyan kreatív gondolkodókat keres, akik új termékeket tudnak fejleszteni.
He is an independent thinker who is not afraid to challenge his boss.
You need to be a critical thinker to separate facts from opinions online.
As a strategic thinker, she always plans three steps ahead of everyone else.
Learner examples
He is a quick thinker during problems at work.
Munkahelyi problémák esetén gyorsan vág az esze.
We need creative thinkers for this new project.
Kreatív gondolkodókra van szükségünk ehhez az új projekthez.
She is an independent thinker and does not just copy others.
Teachers try to help students become critical thinkers.
My boss is a strategic thinker and makes long-term plans.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes leave out the adjective and say *"He is a thinker"* when they really mean *"He is a quick/creative/critical thinker"*. Without an adjective, *a thinker* usually sounds more general or philosophical. Also, some learners confuse *critical thinker* with *person who criticizes a lot*; *critical thinker* means someone who carefully checks information, not someone who is negative.
Meaning
person with a certain way of thinking
Collocations
creative thinker |critical thinker |independent thinker |strategic thinker |quick thinker |original thinker
Synonyms
problem-solver (Focuses more on the ability to find solutions, especially in practical situations.) | innovator (Highlights creativity and new ideas rather than general thinking style.)
Antonyms
follower (Suggests a person who accepts others' ideas without thinking independently.)
Themes
work |intellect |personal_traits |education |core_vocabulary
Definition

A person who has a special way of thinking, for example being quick, creative, or independent when solving problems.

A person described in terms of how they think, especially how fast, creatively, critically, or independently they solve problems or make decisions.

NOUN C1 INFORMAL
3
elgondolkodtató alkotás B2
agyalós film C1
Usage pattern:
[something] is a real thinker
The film is a real thinker; you’ll probably want to watch it twice.
Ez egy igazi agyalós film; valószínűleg kétszer is meg akarod majd nézni.
It’s not an action movie at all—it’s more of a thinker about memory and loss.
Egyáltalán nem akciófilm; inkább az emlékezetről és a veszteségről szóló elgondolkodtató film.
That novel is a bit of a thinker, so don’t pick it up when you’re tired.
The show starts slow, but it’s a thinker that stays with you for days.
If you’re in the mood for a thinker, this documentary is perfect.
Learner examples
The movie was a real thinker, and I talked about it for hours.
A film nagyon elgondolkodtató volt, és órákig beszéltem róla.
This book is a thinker, so you must read it carefully.
Ez a könyv elgondolkodtató, ezért figyelmesen kell olvasni.
It’s not simple fun; it’s a thinker about love and time.
That show is a thinker, not just action and jokes.
If you want a thinker, watch this long and serious film.
Common mistake:
Learners may think *thinker* only means a person. In informal speech, especially in reviews or conversations about movies and books, *a thinker* can also mean a work that makes you think a lot. This use is not common in very formal writing.
Meaning
book or film that makes you think
Collocations
a real thinker |movie that’s a thinker |film that’s a thinker |novel that’s a thinker
Synonyms
thought-provoking work (More formal and general; can be used in serious writing and does not sound slangy.)
Antonyms
mindless entertainment (Describes something easy to watch or read that does not require much thought.)
Themes
entertainment |intellect |arts_entertainment |education |communication
Definition

An informal word for a movie, book, or show that is not easy and makes you think a lot about it.

An informal term for a book, film, or other work that requires mental effort and makes you think deeply about its ideas or story.

Grammar
Dictionary form
thinker
IPA
GB/θˈɪŋkɚ/
US/θˈɪŋkɚ/
Syllables & stress
thinker (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (thinker)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: thinker
  • Plural: thinkers
Word family
Forms
thinkers noun
Core family
think verb A2 thought noun A2 thinking noun thoughtful adjective B1
Related words
thoughtfully adverb B2 thoughtfulness noun rethink verb B2 overthink verb
Negative and opposite forms
thoughtless adjective B2 thoughtlessly adverb unthinkable adjective
Advanced or less common
thinkable adjective unthinking adjective
Expressions

big thinker

1
/bˈɪɡ θˈɪŋkɚ/
fixed phrase

person who has large-scale ideas

A person who likes to think about very big ideas or plans, not small everyday things.

Examples
  • She’s a big thinker who wants to change the whole industry.
  • Big thinkers are important, but we also need people who handle details.

creative thinker

1
/kɹiˈeɪtɪv θˈɪŋkɚ/
fixed phrase

person who thinks of new ideas

A person who can come up with new and different ideas, not just usual ones.

Examples
  • The company hires creative thinkers to help design fresh products.
  • As a creative thinker, she quickly found an unusual solution to the problem.

critical thinker

1
/kɹˈɪtɪkəl θˈɪŋkɚ/
fixed phrase

person who evaluates information carefully

A person who does not just accept information, but checks it and thinks about it very carefully.

Examples
  • Teachers want students to become critical thinkers, not just repeat facts.
  • Being a critical thinker helps you avoid believing false news online.

deep thinker

1
/dˈip θˈɪŋkɚ/
fixed phrase

person who thinks very seriously

A person who spends a lot of time thinking seriously about life, ideas, or problems.

Examples
  • Everyone knows him as a deep thinker who rarely gives quick answers.
  • She’s a deep thinker, so her essays are always full of interesting ideas.

forward thinker

1
/fˈɔɹwɚd θˈɪŋkɚ/
fixed phrase

person who thinks about the future

A person who thinks a lot about the future and how things can change or improve.

Examples
  • He’s a forward thinker who always asks how technology will change our lives.
  • Forward thinkers helped the company move into new markets early.

free thinker

1
/fɹˈi θˈɪŋkɚ/
fixed phrase

person who rejects fixed beliefs

A person who decides what they believe by themselves and does not just follow traditional or official ideas.

Examples
  • In his time he was seen as a dangerous free thinker.
  • Free thinkers often question religious and political traditions.

independent thinker

1
/ˌɪndɪpˈɛndənt θˈɪŋkɚ/
fixed phrase

person who thinks for themselves

A person who makes their own ideas and does not just follow what other people think.

Examples
  • She is an independent thinker who often challenges common beliefs.
  • The school tries to develop independent thinkers, not just good test-takers.

lateral thinker

1
/lˈætɚəl θˈɪŋkɚ/
fixed phrase

person who solves problems in unusual ways

A person who finds answers by thinking in new and different ways, not just in the normal straight way.

Examples
  • They hired her because she’s a lateral thinker who sees unusual solutions.
  • Lateral thinkers often come up with ideas that surprise everyone.

one of the great thinkers

1
/wˈʌn əv ðə ɡɹˈeɪt θˈɪŋkɚz/
fixed phrase

person among the most important thinkers

A person who many people believe is one of the most important and powerful thinkers in history or in a special area.

Examples
  • She is widely regarded as one of the great thinkers of the twentieth century.
  • The book explores the lives of some of the great thinkers of ancient Greece.

original thinker

1
/ɚˈɪd͡ʒənəl θˈɪŋkɚ/
fixed phrase

person with very new ideas

A person who has new and different ideas that other people have not had before.

Examples
  • He’s an original thinker whose theories changed the field.
  • The prize is given each year to a truly original thinker.

quick thinker

1
/kwˈɪk θˈɪŋkɚ/
fixed phrase

person who thinks fast

A person who can think and make good decisions very fast, especially in a difficult situation.

Examples
  • He’s a quick thinker and saved the child from falling.
  • You need to be a quick thinker to work at the help desk.

strategic thinker

1
/stɹətˈid͡ʒɪk θˈɪŋkɚ/
fixed phrase

person who plans long-term

A person who is good at making long-term plans and thinking about the future steps of a plan.

Examples
  • We need a strategic thinker to lead this new business unit.
  • As a strategic thinker, she sees how today’s choices affect the next five years.
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