When someone says I was thinking about you, it can stir a range of emotions—warmth, curiosity, surprise, or even confusion.
But finding the right way to reply can be tricky. You might want to sound thoughtful, casual, witty, or professional—depending on who said it and why.
Whether it’s from a friend, a romantic interest, a colleague, or someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, the way you respond matters.
This article will give you the perfect alternatives to use in different situations. Whether you’re replying in a formal email or texting someone close, you’ll find an expression that fits.
Sorry Generator
Formal Ways to Say I Was Thinking About You
These expressions work well in polite conversations, letters, or messages with a respectful tone.
- You’ve been on my mind lately
- I found myself reflecting on you recently
- You crossed my thoughts this morning
- I was reminded of you today
- You came to mind earlier
- I happened to be thinking about our last conversation
- Your name came up in a discussion, and I thought of you
- I recalled you during a quiet moment
- I was reflecting on past times and thought of you
- A memory involving you resurfaced
- I was reminded of your advice
- You occurred to me during my reflection
- I caught myself thinking about our past interactions
- Your presence in my thoughts was strong today
- I thought of you while reading something interesting
- Your story came to mind today
- I had a moment of reflection that included you
- I remembered something you said
- You entered my thoughts unexpectedly
- A certain moment reminded me of you
- While meditating, I thought about you
- You passed through my thoughts earlier
- I was considering your opinion on something
- You were part of my musings
- My thoughts turned to you
- You came to mind during my walk
- I thought about how you’re doing lately
- My reflections included you
- You occurred to me in a quiet moment
- I found myself thinking of our shared experience
- I was reminiscing and you were part of it
- Your memory visited me today
Informal Ways to Say I Was Thinking About You
These are easy-going and perfect for texting friends, family, or someone special.
- You popped into my head
- Missed you today
- Been thinking about you
- You crossed my mind
- You were on my mind
- I had you in my thoughts
- Couldn’t stop thinking about you
- Thought of you randomly
- You flashed through my brain
- You came to mind
- I was wondering how you’re doing
- Had you in my head all day
- Thought about you and smiled
- Remembered something funny we did
- Your face showed up in my thoughts
- Thought of texting you earlier
- Just thinking of you
- Had you on my radar
- You were in my mental playlist
- You drifted into my brain
- I had a ‘you’ moment
- Something made me think of you
- I was mentally replaying our last talk
- You danced through my mind
- A little memory of us came up
- You were in my thoughts for a while
- Your name floated into my head
- Couldn’t help but think of you
- You were totally on my mind
- You’ve been in my brain today
- I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately
- You’ve been stuck in my head today
Idiomatic Ways to Say I Was Thinking About You
These colorful phrases can add personality and warmth to your message.
- You were riding shotgun in my mind
- You’ve been living rent-free in my head
- Your name rang a bell
- My mind took a walk down memory lane
- I had a flashback of you
- You’ve been looping in my thoughts
- I was swimming in memories and you showed up
- You popped up like a song stuck in my head
- I was caught in a moment that screamed you
- You were the star of my mental movie
- My heart took a detour to you
- You floated through my mind like a breeze
- You’ve been circling in my thoughts
- You came like a whisper in the wind
- Your vibe hit me out of nowhere
- My mind made a pitstop at you
- A light bulb moment reminded me of you
- You’re my unexpected guest in thought-town
- You made a cameo in my mental reel
- I found myself in a you spiral
- You were the thought I didn’t expect
- You crash-landed in my brain today
- My thoughts wandered and landed on you
- I took a little brain detour to you
- You were the echo in my quiet moment
- You floated in like an old tune
- Your memory came knocking
- You crept into my thoughts softly
- My mind dialed your number today
- I was mentally revisiting our greatest hits
- Your thought photobombed my brain
Professional Ways to Say I Was Thinking About You
Use these versions when talking to colleagues, clients, or superiors in a workplace context.
- I was reflecting on our last meeting
- You came to mind during a recent discussion
- I was reviewing our project and thought of your input
- Your expertise came up in a conversation
- I recalled your approach to a similar issue
- Your name came up while brainstorming
- I considered your perspective on this matter
- I was thinking of your recent contributions
- I thought of your strategy while working on this
- Your feedback stayed with me
- I remembered something you mentioned during the meeting
- You were in my thoughts regarding our current task
- I found myself referencing your earlier suggestion
- You came to mind during a planning session
- I thought of you while reading a case study
- Your advice came to mind during my prep
- I was reminded of your insight
- I reflected on our previous collaboration
- I reviewed our notes and thought of your input
- Your solution-oriented approach stood out to me
- I recalled your process during my work
- You were on my radar this week
- You crossed my thoughts while drafting this report
- Your earlier comment was relevant today
- I thought of your experience in this area
- Your leadership style stayed with me
- Your voice echoed in the planning phase
- I remembered your take on this issue
- I was thinking of your valuable insight
- You were in my thoughts during the evaluation
- I mentally revisited your presentation
- You were part of my strategic reflection
Conclusion
Saying I was thinking about you can feel meaningful, but your response shapes the whole exchange. A formal reply shows respect. An informal one can build warmth. Idiomatic phrases add creativity, while professional tones keep things sharp in the workplace.
Choosing the right way to respond strengthens connection, shows emotional intelligence, and fits the moment perfectly. So go ahead—use these phrases and make your replies count. The more you practice, the more natural it becomes.
James Smith is an acclaimed fiction writer and storyteller whose work explores the human condition through a lens of emotional depth and sharp observation. Known for his captivating prose and unforgettable characters, James has carved a unique space in contemporary literature.
With a background in English Literature and over a decade of writing experience, his stories have been featured in numerous literary magazines and anthologies. James is passionate about mentoring emerging writers and frequently speaks at literary events and creative writing workshops.
Selected Works:
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Beneath the Quiet Sky
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The Echoes We Leave Behind
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Fragments of a Forgotten Summer
