Word.ws English Dictionary

thinking cap

Syllables: think·ing cap/ˈθɪŋkɪŋ ˌkæp/

thinking cap noun: a metaphorical state of focused thinking or concentration, invoked to encourage problem-solving.

Noun

thinking cap (plural thinking caps)

  1. (humorous, idiomatic) A metaphorical state of focused thinking or concentration, invoked to encourage problem-solving.
    • This project looks like it will be a real challenge – put on your thinking cap!
    • Now suppose they put on their "thinking-caps" a moment or two, and consider what is going on in the great world around them. [...] Before you pull off your "thinking-cap" cast a look around your own country—free, prosperous, powerful, independent; yet how full of wickedness, and how unmindful of...1855 February 28, “On with Your Thinking-caps!”, in Youth’s Penny Gazette, volume XIII, number 5 (number 317 overall), Philadelphia, Pa.; New York, N.Y.; Boston, Mass.: American Sunday-School Union...

Examples of thinking cap in a sentence

  • We want you to put on your thinking caps, and show what manner of boys and girls you are.1862 April, “Putting on the Thinking Caps”, in The Student and Schoolmate, and Forrester’s Boys and Girls Magazine, volume XL, number IV...
  • And if you put on your thinking cap, perhaps you will find that you, too, can take an acceptable keepsake to your teacher." / "Why, I'm sure I've nothing worth taking to her, mamma.1873 October 11, “Jessie’s Token of Love”, in The Temperance Record: The Organ of the National Temperance League, number 914, London...
  • So Reuben [Mattus] put on his thinking cap and came up with the name Häagen-Dazs for his new line of premium, high-fat ice cream.2004, Evan Morris, “Food and Drink”, in From Altoids to Zima: The Surprising Stories behind 125 Brand Names, New York, N.Y.: Fireside...
  • [I]f he stopped, took a deep breath, and put on a thinking cap to make a plan, he would have a greater chance of finding the object and finding it sooner.2013, James A. Bellanca, “Toward More Systematic Searches”, in The Focus Factor: 8 Essential Twenty-first Century Thinking Skills for...

Forms of thinking cap

pluralthinking caps
alternative formthinking-cap

Origin of thinking cap

Probably by analogy with considering cap, which is attested from the early 17th century.

Questions about thinking cap

What does thinking cap mean?
Thinking cap means a metaphorical state of focused thinking or concentration, invoked to encourage problem-solving.
How do you use thinking cap in a sentence?
We want you to put on your thinking caps, and show what manner of boys and girls you are.
What part of speech is thinking cap?
Thinking cap is a noun.
How do you pronounce thinking cap?
Thinking cap is pronounced /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ ˌkæp/ (UK).
What is the plural of thinking cap?
The plural of thinking cap is thinking caps.

Words near thinking cap in the dictionary

  1. thinking about
  2. thinking all one's Christmases have come at once
  3. thinking aloud
  4. thinking back
  5. thinking big
  6. thinking cap
  7. thinking caps
  8. thinking distance
  9. thinking distances
  10. thinking for oneself
  11. thinking good

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: thinking cap (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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