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UK//wɒt wɜːr juː ˈθɪŋkɪŋ//US//wɑt wɪr ju ˈθɪŋkɪŋ//

Meaning of What were you thinking

A question asking about someone's thought process or reasoning.

In simple words: A question asking someone about their thoughts.

What were you thinking in a sentence

  • When I saw the mess they made, I asked, 'What were you thinking?'
  • After they decided to skip class, I wondered, 'What were you thinking?'
  • Seeing the reckless decision, I exclaimed, 'What were you thinking about doing this?'
  • During the game, I shouted, 'What were you thinking when you made that move?'
  • In disbelief, I finally asked, 'What were you thinking when you chose that outfit?'

How to use What were you thinking

Used to inquire about someone's thoughts or decisions, often after a surprising or unexpected action. More informal in casual conversation.

Grammar pattern

standalone question

Memory hint

Imagine someone surprised asking a friend why they did something odd.

Related words

Collocations with What were you thinking

  • What were you thinking about?
  • What were you thinking of?
  • What were you thinking then?
  • What were you thinking earlier?
  • What were you thinking before?

Synonyms for What were you thinking

  • What were you considering?
  • What was on your mind?
  • What were you pondering?
  • What were you thinking about?
  • What were you deliberating?

Common mistakes with What were you thinking

  • Omitting 'were', resulting in 'What you thinking?'
  • Using incorrect tenses, like 'What are you think?'.
  • Overly formal context can make it sound awkward.

What were you thinking appears in

What were you thinking in other languages

More chunks like What were you thinking

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Frequently asked questions about What were you thinking

What does What were you thinking mean?

A question asking someone about their thoughts.

What is the definition of What were you thinking?

A question asking about someone's thought process or reasoning.

How do you use What were you thinking in a sentence?

When I saw the mess they made, I asked, 'What were you thinking?'

Can you give another example of What were you thinking?

After they decided to skip class, I wondered, 'What were you thinking?'

What are synonyms for What were you thinking?

Common alternatives include What were you considering?, What was on your mind?, What were you pondering?, What were you thinking about?, What were you deliberating?.

What words go with What were you thinking?

It commonly pairs with What were you thinking about?, What were you thinking of?, What were you thinking then?, What were you thinking earlier?, What were you thinking before?.

What are common mistakes when using What were you thinking?

Omitting 'were', resulting in 'What you thinking?' Using incorrect tenses, like 'What are you think?'. Overly formal context can make it sound awkward.

How do you pronounce What were you thinking?

US: //wɑt wɪr ju ˈθɪŋkɪŋ//, UK: //wɒt wɜːr juː ˈθɪŋkɪŋ//. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use What were you thinking?

Used to inquire about someone's thoughts or decisions, often after a surprising or unexpected action. More informal in casual conversation.