Standard Lemma guide

rethink

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈɹiːθɪŋk/
  • [ˈɹwɪi̯θɪŋk]
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪŋk
  • /ɹiːˈθɪŋk/
  • [ɹwɪi̯ˈθɪŋk]
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: R IY0 TH IH1 NG K Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of thinking again about something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • This business plan of yours looks risky. It needs a rethink.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To think again about something, with the intention of changing or replacing it.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Disability rights advocates are encouraging people to rethink the words "crazy" and "insane" as they stigmatize mental health.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

thinking again about a choice previously made

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he had second thoughts about his purchase

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: reconsideration, second thought, afterthought

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: reversal, change of mind, flip-flop, turnabout, turnaround

4

verb

Meaning 4

change one's mind

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He rethought his decision to take a vacation

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: think, believe, consider, conceive

Narrower terms: backpedal, about-face

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- Proto-West Germanic *þankijan Old English þenċan Middle English thinken English think English rethink From re- + think.

Across languages

Translations

33 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: преми́слям (premísljam) — think again about a problem
  • Bulgarian: преми́сля (premíslja) — think again about a problem
  • Bulgarian: обми́слям (obmísljam) — think again about a problem
  • Bulgarian: обми́сля (obmíslja) — think again about a problem
  • Catalan: repensar — think again about a problem
  • Chinese Mandarin: 再想 (zàixiǎng) — think again about a problem
  • Chinese Mandarin: 重想 (chóngxiǎng) — think again about a problem
  • Chinese Mandarin: 重新考慮 /重新考虑 (chóngxīn kǎolǜ) — think again about a problem
  • Danish: nytænke — think again about a problem
  • French: repenser — think again about a problem
  • French: réfléchir — think again about a problem
  • German: überdenken — think again about a problem
  • Hungarian: újragondol — think again about a problem
  • Hungarian: újra átgondol — think again about a problem
  • Italian: ripensare — think again about a problem
  • Italian: rivedere — think again about a problem
  • Italian: riconsiderare — think again about a problem
  • Japanese: 再考する (saikō suru) — think again about a problem
  • Polish: przemyśleć — think again about a problem
  • Portuguese: repensar — think again about a problem
  • Romanian: regândi — think again about a problem
  • Russian: переду́мывать (peredúmyvatʹ) — think again about a problem
  • Russian: переду́мать (peredúmatʹ) — think again about a problem
  • Russian: пересма́тривать (peresmátrivatʹ) — think again about a problem
  • Russian: пересмотре́ть (peresmotrétʹ) — think again about a problem
  • Russian: переосмыслить (pereosmyslitʹ) — think again about a problem
  • Spanish: repensar — think again about a problem
  • Spanish: reflexionar — think again about a problem
  • Spanish: reconsiderar — think again about a problem
  • Turkish: tekrardan düşünmek — think again about a problem
  • Ukrainian: переосми́слювати (pereosmýsljuvaty) — think again about a problem
  • Ukrainian: переосми́слити (pereosmýslyty) — think again about a problem
  • Vietnamese: nghĩ lại — think again about a problem