deep in thought
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: Completely and intensely focused on one's own thinking; so absorbed in mental activity that one is largely unaware of the immediate surroundings.
Usage
This adjective phrase describes a person's state of being mentally engrossed. It is typically used after a linking verb like "was," "seemed," or "sat." * She was deep in thought and didn't hear me come in. * He sat at his desk, deep in thought, trying to solve the complex equation.
Advanced Usage
- "to be lost deep in thought": An emphatic variant that underscores a complete mental absorption.
- Staring out the window, she was lost deep in thought about her future.
Variants and Related Words
- Lost in thought: A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "deep in thought."
- He was lost in thought and missed his bus stop.
- Preoccupied: While similar, this can imply being distracted by a specific worry, not just general contemplation.
- Pensive: An adjective describing a person who is, or appears to be, engaged in serious, quiet thought, often with a hint of sadness.
- Meditative: Suggests a deliberate, reflective, and often calm state of deep thought.
Synonyms
- Absorbed
- Engrossed
- Rapt
- Contemplative
- Reflective
Related Phrases
- To be in a brown study: An idiom meaning to be absorbed in one's thoughts, often to the point of appearing gloomy or detached.
- After receiving the news, he was in a brown study for the rest of the afternoon.
Adjective
- deeply absorbed in thought
- as distant and bemused as a professor listening to the prattling of his freshman class
- lost in thought
- a preoccupied frown