rethink
Base form
rethink
/ˌriːˈθɪŋk/
Past simple
rethought
/ˌriːˈθɔːt/
Past participle
rethought
/ˌriːˈθɔːt/
MeaningC1
to think again about an idea or plan, usually to change it
to rethink a plan from scratch
In use
- After a modal verb · Form 1We should rethink our plans for the summer.
- Question · Form 1Will the council rethink the new parking rules?
- Past simple · Form 2After the accident last year, the town rethought its traffic plan.
- Past simple · Form 2Yesterday the coach rethought his tactics at half-time.
- Present perfect · Form 3Since our talk I’ve rethought my answer completely.
- Passive · Form 3The whole project was rethought after the budget cuts.
Watch out
Think → thought, so rethought, with -ought. Rethinked and rethaught are wrong.
Same pattern
-ought / -aughtForms two and three end in -ought or -aught
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