Hopes to some extent placed in The Times succeeded (6)
I believe the answer is:
wishes
'hopes' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'to some extent placed in the times succeeded' is the wordplay.
'to some extent' becomes 'ish' (adjectival suffix meaning to some extent).
'placed in' is an insertion indicator (I've seen this in other clues).
'the times' becomes 'we' (the crossword setter and their colleagues).
'succeeded' becomes 's' (genealogical abbreviation).
'ish' put into 'we' is 'wishe'.
'wishe'+'s'='WISHES'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for wishes that I've seen before include "Wills, wants" , "''If . . . . . . were horses, beggars would ride'' (6)" , "Desires, hopes" .)