Definition of the word think out

The phrase "think out" is a phrasal verb that combines the base word "think" with the preposition "out." Its origins can be traced back to the late 19th century in British English. When broken down, the word "think" carries the original meaning of "to perceive acutely." The term "out" has a few possible origins, but many linguists believe it stems from Old English words meaning "away" or "outside." When wedded together, the phrase "think out" essentially communicates the idea of processing an issue or problem fully, often with the goal of discovering a novel and productive solution. At its core, it's a synonym for "conceive" or "generate ideas." The Oxford English Dictionary dates the first recorded use of "think out" in print to a book published in 1882, which lends evidence to its relatively new advent in the English language. Regardless, over the last 135 years, the phrase has garnered wide acceptance and currently appears frequently in both written and spoken English.