thoughtful

adj — 2 senses

thoughtful

adj

UK /ˈθɔːtfəl/ · US /ˈθɔtfəl/

Etymology From Middle English thoȝtful, thohtful, equivalent to thought + -ful. Compare Dutch gedachtenvol, Swedish tankfull.

1

Demonstrating thought or careful consideration.

  • Most thoughtful people eventually solve the puzzle.
  • Now the New Year reviving old Desires, The thoughtful Soul to Solitude retires, Where the White Hand of Moses on the Bough Puts out, and Jesus from the Ground suspires.1859, Edward Fitzgerald, The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám: The Astronomer-Poet of Persia, page 2:
1 more example
  • But Richmond, his grandfather's darling, after one thoughtful glance cast under his lashes at that uncompromising countenance appeared to lose himself in his own reflections.1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:
2

Demonstrating kindness or consideration for others.

  • Preparing dinner is a thoughtful gesture for a new mother.
Synonyms
attentive, careful, caring, cogitative, contemplative, considerate, introspective, observative, pensive, thoughty
Antonyms
thoughtless
Derived terms
forethoughtful, overthoughtful, thoughtfully, thoughtfulness, unthoughtful
Related terms
sensitive, solemn
Hypernyms
kind
Hyponyms
charitable, helpful

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.