The Britannica Dictionary
mobile search
Home
Ask the Editor
Word of the Day
Quizzes
Core Vocabulary
Browse the Dictionary
×
Britannica Homepage
Ask the Editor
Word of the Day
Quizzes
Core Vocabulary
Browse the Dictionary
The Britannica Dictionary
pensive
1 ENTRIES FOUND:
pensive
(adjective)
pensive
/
ˈ
pɛnsɪv/
adjective
pensive
/
ˈ
pɛnsɪv/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of PENSIVE
[
more pensive; most pensive
]
:
quietly sad or thoughtful
The child sat by himself, looking
pensive
.
a
pensive
young poet
a
pensive
mood/expression/sigh
[+] more examples
[-] hide examples
[+] Example sentences
[-] Hide examples
— pensively
adverb
She stared
pensively
out the window.
[+] more examples
[-] hide examples
[+] Example sentences
[-] Hide examples
— pensiveness
noun
[
noncount
]
ASK THE EDITOR
When should I use
don't
and
doesn't
?
See the answer »
QUIZZES
Vocabulary Quiz
Test your word power
Take the Quiz »
Name That Thing
Take our visual quiz
Test Your Knowledge »
WORD OF THE DAY
contagious
:
able to be passed from one person or animal to another
Learn More »