thoughtfulthought‧ful /ˈθɔːtfəl $ ˈθɒːt-/ ●○○ adjective 
Paul is very thoughtful.it is thoughtful of somebody to do something It was really thoughtful of you to remember my birthday.► see thesaurus at kind2serious and quiet because you are thinking a lot: a thoughtful look a thoughtful silence3well planned and carefully thought about: a thoughtful analysis—thoughtfully adverb—thoughtfulness noun [uncountable]
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- thoughtful analysis
- a thoughtful expression
- My mother sat and watched me eating my food with a thoughtful expression on her face -- I could tell she had something to say.
- Paula's such a thoughtful girl.
- Suddenly he became more thoughtful, and his eyes filmed over with sadness.
- From the sunlit atrium with its glass elevator to the tasteful rooms and thoughtful service, this hotel shines with refined comfort.
- He stood silent and thoughtful, by himself.
- It is still a thoughtful, finely acted and daringly all-encompassing film, suggesting that no-one has a fixed nature.
- Let us be kind and thoughtful and not to be unkind and hurt other people.
- She seemed a thoughtful person, some one of like nature to Mary Smith, but with much more up top.
- Some things encourage a more thoughtful, inventive kind of play than others.
- They encourage corporate and individual responsibility by rewarding thoughtful management of food supply and demand.
- Woody Allen is a sober, thoughtful, intelligent guy.
THESAURUS
someone who is kind tries to help people and make them happy or comfortable, and shows that they care about them: · They were very kind to us and let us stay in their house as long as we liked.· a kind old lady· a kind thing to say
especially spoken friendly and kind. Nice is very common in everyday spoken English and is often used instead of kind: · Everyone has been so nice to me.· It’s nice of you to invite me here.· He seems such a nice man.
kind because you give people money, presents etc: · ‘I’ll pay for the meal.’ ‘That’s very generous of you.’· a generous gift
thinking about other people’s feelings, and careful not to do anything that will upset them: · Our neighbours are very considerate and always keep their TV turned down.· a considerate driver· He’s always very polite and considerate to his guests.
thinking of things you can do to make other people happy or feel good – used especially when someone does something such as giving someone a present or helping someone: · It was thoughtful of you to send him a card.· Some thoughtful person had taken her bag to the lost property office.
kind and wanting to help and look after people: · She’s lucky to have such a loving and caring husband.· The British are well-known for their caring attitude toward animals.
saying kind things to someone who has problems and behaving in a way that shows you care about them: · My boss was very sympathetic and said I should take some time off work.· She gave him a sympathetic smile.
kind and showing that you want to help – used especially in the following phrases: · It was good of you to come and see me.· She’s always been very good to us.
informal very kind – used especially when you like someone very much, or you are very pleased because of something they have done: · I was given the flowers by a sweet little old lady who lived next door.· It’s sweet of you to ask.· a sweet thing to say
especially written having a kind and friendly character, which makes other people like you: · He was a wonderful father, kind-hearted and always laughing.· The town is full of warm-hearted, helpful people.
formal kind and wanting to help people – often used about someone who is important or who people respect: · a benevolent ruler· They believe in the existence of a benevolent God who will save mankind.· He listened politely, like some benevolent uncle.
Longman Language Activatorkind someone who is kind tries to help people and make them happy or comfortable, and shows that they care about them: · Everyone loved Mary. She was the kindest, most generous person in the world.kind to: · He's a good brother. He's always been kind to me.it is kind of somebody (to do something): · "Karen gave me a lift to the station." "That was kind of her."
kind behaviour: · What this child needs is a little love and kindness.· She was touched by this simple act of kindness.kindness to: · I shall never forget her kindness to me.
especially spoken someone who is nice is kind and friendly, and often helpful: · I've got a nice boss, and the pay's good.· "She offered to pay for everything." "That was a nice gesture."nice to: · Why can't they just be nice to each other?it is nice of somebody (to do something): · It was nice of them to invite us.
someone who is considerate or thoughtful thinks about other people's feelings and tries to do things that will make them happy or comfortable: · Louis was always considerate towards other people.it is considerate/thoughtful of somebody (to do something): · It was considerate of them to warn us that they might be late.· "I didn't phone this afternoon. I thought you might be resting." "That was very thoughtful of you."
if you are good to someone, especially someone who is old, young, sick etc, you are kind to them and give them what they need: good to: · My stepfather's always been very good to me and treated me like one of his own children.it is good of somebody (to do something): · It's good of you to see me at such short notice.
someone who is gentle is nice and kind, and is never angry or violent: · My father was a professional boxer, but at home with the family he was always quiet and gentle.· a sweet, gentle girl who wouldn't hurt a fly
if you say that someone's heart is in the right place, you mean that they do not always do the right thing, but they are basically a good, kind person: · He can be rude and bad-tempered sometimes, but his heart's in the right place.
when someone is thinking about something someone who is thoughtful has a serious expression on their face and does not say anything, because they are thinking deeply about something: · Suddenly he became more thoughtful, and his eyes filmed over with sadness.· My mother sat and watched me eating my food with a thoughtful expression on her face -- I could tell she had something to say.
thinking deeply about something and seeming a little sad - use this especially in literary contexts: · He kept looking over at her sad, pensive face.· As he ended his trip, the usually upbeat Mr. Liebenow was in a pensive mood.
to be thinking so deeply about something that you do not notice what is happening around you: · She'd been so deep in thought, she hadn't heard the man open the dining room door.· Her mother stood folding the wash, lost in thought.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a thoughtful look a thoughtful silenceCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a thoughtful look a thoughtful silence (=one that shows you are thinking about something)· She listened to him with a thoughtful expression on her face.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· It seems to me often that her husband is kinder and more thoughtful.· Some things encourage a more thoughtful, inventive kind of play than others.· Since she had seen him in Marlott, his face had grown more thoughtful.· Rather, more data and more thoughtful analysis are required.· Morton had become immediately more thoughtful, and had ordered him to keep the matter firmly underneath his hat.· Both the new managers and their organizations could have been more thoughtful and proactive in managing their first-year learning.· A minority of students took a more thoughtful view of modern physics however.· As he blew smoke rings, his eyes grew more thoughtful, worried, filmed over with sadness.
· But, again like most thoughtful women, she rarely admitted this aloud.· The contradiction is a real one and deserves the most thoughtful consideration.
· I arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport in a very thoughtful frame of mind.· She seemed very thoughtful, and as I was leaving, she placed a ring on my finger.· The gesture seemed like an obligatory Academy Award speech, very thoughtful and very boring.· I paid my bill in very thoughtful fashion, and with a trembling hand.· I think that Perry was a very thoughtful, patient individual.· He went very thoughtful for a while.· As a governor, you need to be very thoughtful about what you request because you may get it.
NOUN· He had seen a thoughtful look in her eyes.· Then a thoughtful look came into his eye, and without a word he ducked below.· Gareth Davis stood watching them, a thoughtful look on his face.· With a thoughtful look Goebbels walked back to his desk.
· Lavender, an intelligent, thoughtful man nearing 40, might have been a guerrilla chief in another war.· I believed the senator was a thoughtful man whose wealth had elevated him above the need to make compromises with his convictions.· When David wasn't drinking he was a gentle, sad, thoughtful man.
· But he accepted the proffered wine and took a long draught, letting a thoughtful silence fall.· She turned and greeted her friend, then continued sitting in thoughtful silence.
WORD FAMILYnounthoughtthoughtfulness ≠ thoughtlessnessadjectivethoughtful ≠ thoughtlessadverbthoughtfully ≠ thoughtlessly
1always thinking of the things you can do to make people happy or comfortable OPP thoughtless: Paul is very thoughtful.it is thoughtful of somebody to do something It was really thoughtful of you to remember my birthday.► see thesaurus at kind2serious and quiet because you are thinking a lot: a thoughtful look a thoughtful silence3well planned and carefully thought about: a thoughtful analysis—thoughtfully adverb—thoughtfulness noun [uncountable]