collecting one's thoughts

A form of collect one's thoughts — To become mentally composed, especially after being distressed, surprised, or disoriented; to become calm or organized in one's emotional state or thinking, as in preparation for a conversation, speech, decision, etc.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of collect one's thoughts
Cite this entry
APA

collecting one's thoughts. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/collecting%20one's%20thoughts

MLA

“collecting one's thoughts.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/collecting%20one's%20thoughts. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “collecting one's thoughts,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/collecting%20one's%20thoughts.

Source: collecting one's thoughts on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.