Basic Details
Word: Pensive
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Deeply thoughtful, often in a sad or serious way.
Synonyms: Contemplative, reflective, thoughtful
Antonyms: Unthinking, carefree, light-hearted
Idioms and Phrases
- Pensive mood: A state of being deep in thought. Example: "She was in a pensive mood as she gazed out of the window, staring at the falling rain."
- Lost in thought: To be so absorbed in one's own thoughts that one does not notice what is happening around. Example: "He was lost in thought, appearing pensive as he considered his future."
Usage Examples
Example 1: As she sat alone on the bench, a pensive expression crossed her face, revealing her worries about the upcoming exams.
Example 2: The artist looked pensive while contemplating the next stroke of his brush on the canvas.
Example 3: His pensive gaze told us that he was reflecting on something quite significant in his life.
Fun Fact
The word "pensive" comes from the Latin word "pensare," which means "to weigh," indicating the weighty and serious nature of one's thoughts.
Famous Quote
"The greatest ideas are those that contain their own reason for being." Paul Valery (emphasizing the depth of thought, akin to being pensive).
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "pensive" mean?
a) Happy and carefree
b) Deeply thoughtful, often in a serious way
c) Loud and boisterous
d) Quick to act
Answer: b) Deeply thoughtful, often in a serious way
2. Which of these is a synonym of "pensive"?
a) Carefree
b) Thoughtful
c) Energetic
d) Silly
Answer: b) Thoughtful
3. Which of the following is an antonym of "pensive"?
a) Contemplative
b) Reflective
c) Light-hearted
d) Thoughtful
Answer: c) Light-hearted
4. Which sentence uses "pensive" correctly?
a) She had a pensive smile on her face as she played with the puppy.
b) He looked pensive while reading the funny comic.
c) The pensive clouds hung low in the sky.
d) At the party, everyone was pensive and laughing.
Answer: a) She had a pensive smile on her face as she played with the puppy.
5. Which idiom means being absorbed in thought?
a) Lost in thought
b) On cloud nine
c) As light as a feather
d) Getting cold feet
Answer: a) Lost in thought
