thinker
person who thinks deeply
A person who often thinks deeply about big ideas and questions.
a [adjective] thinker of/about [topic]
- Many see her as one of the most important political thinkers of her generation.
- The course introduces students to major thinkers of the Enlightenment.
- 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.
- She is a great thinker in modern science.
- We studied different thinkers in our history class.
- 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.
person with a certain way of thinking
A person who has a special way of thinking, for example being quick, creative, or independent when solving problems.
a [adjective] thinker
- She’s a quick thinker and stays calm in emergencies.
- The company is looking for creative thinkers who can develop new products.
- 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.
- He is a quick thinker during problems at work.
- We need creative thinkers for this new project.
- 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.
book or film that makes you think
An informal word for a movie, book, or show that is not easy and makes you think a lot about it.
[something] is a real thinker
- The film is a real thinker; you’ll probably want to watch it twice.
- It’s not an action movie at all—it’s more of a thinker about memory and loss.
- 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.
- The movie was a real thinker, and I talked about it for hours.
- This book is a thinker, so you must read it carefully.
- 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.
- Base: thinker
- Plural: thinkers
big thinker
1person who has large-scale ideas
A person who likes to think about very big ideas or plans, not small everyday things.
- 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
1person who thinks of new ideas
A person who can come up with new and different ideas, not just usual ones.
- 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
1person who evaluates information carefully
A person who does not just accept information, but checks it and thinks about it very carefully.
- Teachers want students to become critical thinkers, not just repeat facts.
- Being a critical thinker helps you avoid believing false news online.
deep thinker
1person who thinks very seriously
A person who spends a lot of time thinking seriously about life, ideas, or problems.
- 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
1person who thinks about the future
A person who thinks a lot about the future and how things can change or improve.
- 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
1person who rejects fixed beliefs
A person who decides what they believe by themselves and does not just follow traditional or official ideas.
- In his time he was seen as a dangerous free thinker.
- Free thinkers often question religious and political traditions.
independent thinker
1person who thinks for themselves
A person who makes their own ideas and does not just follow what other people think.
- She is an independent thinker who often challenges common beliefs.
- The school tries to develop independent thinkers, not just good test-takers.
lateral thinker
1person 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.
- 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
1person 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.
- 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
1person with very new ideas
A person who has new and different ideas that other people have not had before.
- He’s an original thinker whose theories changed the field.
- The prize is given each year to a truly original thinker.
quick thinker
1person who thinks fast
A person who can think and make good decisions very fast, especially in a difficult situation.
- 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
1person who plans long-term
A person who is good at making long-term plans and thinking about the future steps of a plan.
- 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.