philosophical
gb/fˌɪləsˈɑfɪkəl/ us/fˌɪləsˈɑfɪkəl/
B2
Inglês
~ 5800
Aceções
0 aceções
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
relating to the field of philosophy
About the school subject of philosophy and its ideas about truth, knowledge, and right and wrong.
Padrão de uso:
philosophical [question/idea/argument/tradition]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use *philosophical* when they only mean *smart* or *complicated*. In this sense, it should clearly connect to the school subject of philosophy or to big ideas about knowledge, reality, or ethics, not just to something that is difficult.
Sinónimos
theoretical (Focuses on abstract ideas rather than practical use; not limited to philosophy but often overlaps in academic writing.)
|
metaphysical (More technical and narrower; usually about the nature of reality and existence, a sub-area within philosophy.)
Antónimos
practical (Emphasizes real-world use and action instead of abstract or philosophical thinking.)
Colocações
philosophical question
|philosophical argument
|philosophical tradition
|philosophical theory
|philosophical text
|philosophical school
Temas
education
|ideas
|culture
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- The course gives an introduction to major philosophical questions about knowledge and reality.
- Her research examines the philosophical foundations of human rights law.
- There is a long philosophical tradition behind this concept of free will.
- The book is written in an accessible style but raises serious philosophical issues.
- He criticized the paper for its weak philosophical argument against artificial intelligence.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- I am taking a class on philosophical ideas at university.
- We talked about the philosophical question of whether people have free will.
- The writer uses many difficult philosophical words in this text.
- She is interested in the philosophical problems of time and space.
adjective
B2
property
2
calmly accepting bad situations
Staying calm and accepting a bad situation instead of getting very upset or angry.
Padrão de uso:
philosophical about [something]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with the academic meaning of *philosophical*. In this sense, it usually appears after a verb like *be*, *stay*, or *remain* and is followed by *about [something]*, describing a calm attitude to a specific problem.
Sinónimos
stoic (Stronger and more formal; suggests not showing emotion at all, even when suffering.)
|
resigned (Focuses more on accepting that you cannot change something, sometimes with a sad tone, not always as calm or thoughtful as philosophical.)
Antónimos
upset (Shows strong negative emotion instead of staying calm and accepting.)
|
emotional (Shows feelings openly and strongly, instead of remaining detached and philosophical.)
Colocações
philosophical about it
|philosophical attitude
|philosophical approach
|remain philosophical
|stay philosophical
Temas
emotions
|personality
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- Although she lost her job, she tried to stay philosophical about it.
- He was surprisingly philosophical about the breakup and said it was probably for the best.
- We need to be philosophical about delays like this; they are out of our control.
- After the failure, he took a philosophical view and focused on what he had learned.
- She tends to be philosophical about problems that other people find very stressful.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- He was philosophical about the bad news.
- She tried to be philosophical about the exam result.
- My father is very philosophical about money problems.
- They stayed philosophical when their flight was cancelled.
adjective
C1
property
3
deeply thoughtful about life
Thinking or talking in a deep way about life and big ideas, not about small everyday things.
Padrão de uso:
philosophical [discussion/mood/question/tone]
Erro comum:
Learners may mix this sense with the strictly academic meaning. Here, *philosophical* does not have to be about the school subject; it can describe everyday talk or feelings that are deep and serious, but not technical.
Sinónimos
reflective (Emphasizes quiet, thoughtful consideration; not always about big life questions but often overlaps.)
|
thoughtful (Very common and less formal; can mean simply kind or careful, so not always as deep or abstract as philosophical.)
Antónimos
superficial (Focuses on surface-level or simple details instead of deep ideas.)
|
shallow (Informal and sometimes critical; suggests not thinking deeply about life or ideas.)
Colocações
philosophical conversation
|philosophical mood
|philosophical reflection
|philosophical tone
Temas
ideas
|emotions
|daily life
|education
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- After a few drinks, the conversation became surprisingly philosophical.
- The movie has a philosophical tone, asking what it really means to live a good life.
- He was in a philosophical mood and started talking about the purpose of happiness.
- Their late-night walk turned into a long, philosophical discussion about love and death.
- The novel raises philosophical questions without using any technical language.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- We had a long, philosophical talk about our future.
- Sometimes my friends get philosophical and ask why we are here.
- The book is funny but also very philosophical.
- Last night I felt philosophical and wrote about the meaning of my life.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
philosophical
IPA
GB/fˌɪləsˈɑfɪkəl/
US/fˌɪləsˈɑfɪkəl/
Sílabas e acento
philo - soph - ic - al (4 sílabas)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ic)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
- Base: philosophical
Família de palavras
Core family
Related words
philosophize
verb
Negative and opposite forms
unphilosophical
adjective
Advanced or less common
philosophic
adjective
Expressões
be philosophical about something
1/bˈi fˌɪləsˈɑfɪkəl əbˈaʊt sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
stay calm and accept problems
To react to a bad or difficult situation in a calm, thoughtful way, and accept it instead of getting very upset.
Exemplos
- Try to be philosophical about the delay; there’s nothing we can do.
- He was surprisingly philosophical about losing the contract.
- She told me to be philosophical about my mistake and just move on.
in a philosophical sense
1/ˈɪn ə fˌɪləsˈɑfɪkəl sˈɛns/
fixed phrase
formal
considered from a philosophical angle
Looking at something only as an idea in philosophy, not in a practical or everyday way.
Exemplos
- In a philosophical sense, the question is about what it means to know anything at all.
- You could say, in a philosophical sense, that we are all alone.
- In a philosophical sense, this problem is about freedom and responsibility.
philosophical approach
1/fˌɪləsˈɑfɪkəl əpɹˈoʊt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
formal
method using philosophical reasoning
A way of thinking about or dealing with a problem that uses philosophical ideas.
Exemplos
- The author takes a philosophical approach to questions about artificial intelligence.
- Our project combines a philosophical approach with empirical research.
- A purely philosophical approach may ignore important social facts.
philosophical argument
1/fˌɪləsˈɑfɪkəl ˈɑɹɡjəmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
line of reasoning in philosophy
A careful line of reasoning that tries to show that a philosophical idea is true or false.
Exemplos
- Her paper presents a new philosophical argument against punishment by death.
- Students analyzed a classic philosophical argument for the existence of God.
- The philosophical argument is complex but logically strong.
philosophical debate
1/fˌɪləsˈɑfɪkəl dɪbˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
formal
serious discussion of big ideas
A formal or serious discussion where people argue about philosophical ideas.
Exemplos
- There is an ongoing philosophical debate about whether machines can think.
- The lecture sparked a lively philosophical debate among the students.
- These issues have been at the center of philosophical debate for centuries.
philosophical issue
1/fˌɪləsˈɑfɪkəl ˈɪʃu/
fixed phrase
formal
topic or problem in philosophy
A problem or topic that belongs to philosophy, not just to everyday life or simple facts.
Exemplos
- Free will is a classic philosophical issue in ethics.
- The author treats climate change as both a scientific and a philosophical issue.
- Personal identity is a difficult philosophical issue to explain to beginners.
philosophical outlook
1/fˌɪləsˈɑfɪkəl ˈaʊtlˌʊk/
fixed phrase
philosophy-based view of life
A general way someone sees life that is shaped by their philosophical ideas or beliefs.
Exemplos
- Her philosophical outlook is strongly influenced by Buddhism.
- Travel changed his philosophical outlook on work and success.
- The course encouraged students to develop a more philosophical outlook on everyday problems.
philosophical point of view
1/fˌɪləsˈɑfɪkəl pˈɔɪnt əv vjˈu/
fixed phrase
way of thinking based on philosophy
A way of thinking that comes from certain philosophical ideas or beliefs.
Exemplos
- From a philosophical point of view, suffering can give life meaning.
- The book is written from a broadly existentialist philosophical point of view.
- From a philosophical point of view, that decision is hard to defend.
philosophical question
1/fˌɪləsˈɑfɪkəl kwˈɛst͡ʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
fundamental question about big ideas
A big, general question about life, reality, knowledge, or what is right and wrong.
Exemplos
- The film raises the philosophical question of what makes a person the same over time.
- We ended up discussing the philosophical question of whether life has a purpose.
- That is more of a philosophical question than a scientific one.
philosophical tradition
1/fˌɪləsˈɑfɪkəl tɹədˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
historical line of philosophical thought
A long, shared way of thinking in philosophy that many writers follow over time.
Exemplos
- This idea comes from the ancient Greek philosophical tradition.
- He works within the analytical philosophical tradition.
- Feminist thinkers have created a rich new philosophical tradition.