Contemplate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈkän-təm-ˌplāt/ con·tem·plate

Meaning & Definition of Contemplate

Contemplate (verb)

  1. to view or consider with continued attention, meditate on
  2. to view as likely or probable or as an end or intention
  3. ponder, meditate

Contemplate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give serious and careful thought to

    "she contemplated the problem for several hours before reaching a decision"

    similar: chew over, cogitate, consider, debate, deliberate, entertain, eye, kick around, meditate, mull (over), perpend, ponder, pore (over), question, revolve, ruminate, study, think (about or over), turn, weigh, wrestle (with), beat one's brains out (about), chew on, cudgel one's brains (about), look at
    related: muse (upon), reflect (on or upon), reminisce, analyze, explore, review, conclude, reason, second-guess, speculate (about), brood (about or over), dwell (on or upon), fixate (on or upon), fret (about or over), obsess (about or over), believe, conceive, opine, absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in)
    near: disregard, ignore, overlook, slight, dismiss, pooh-pooh, reject

  2. to have in mind as a purpose or goal

    "he waited patiently, contemplating revenge all the while"

    similar: aim, allow (chiefly Southern & Midland), aspire, calculate, design, go (chiefly Southern & Midland), intend, look, mean, meditate, plan, propose, purport, purpose, figure on
    related: dream, hope, wish, consider, debate, mull (over), ponder, attempt, endeavor, strive, struggle, try, plot, scheme, accomplish, achieve, effect, execute, perform

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Contemplate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Contemplate:

Chiefly Southern & Midland: allow, go
chew over, cogitate, consider, debate, deliberate, entertain, eye, kick around, meditate, mull (over), perpend, ponder, pore (over), question, revolve, ruminate, study, think (about or over), turn, weigh, wrestle (with), aim, aspire, calculate, design, intend, look, mean, plan, propose, purport, purpose, beat one's brains out (about), chew on, cudgel one's brains (about), look at, figure on

Related Words for Contemplate

muse (upon), reflect (on or upon), reminisce, analyze, explore, review, conclude, reason, second-guess, speculate (about), brood (about or over), dwell (on or upon), fixate (on or upon), fret (about or over), obsess (about or over), believe, conceive, opine, absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in), dream, hope, wish, attempt, endeavor, strive, struggle, try

Near Antonyms of Contemplate

disregard, ignore, overlook, slight, dismiss, pooh-pooh, reject

Word Forms of Contemplate

Inflections: contemplated, contemplating

Derived words: contemplator (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Contemplate

borrowed from Latin contemplātus, past participle of contemplāre, contemplārī "to look at fixedly, observe, notice, ponder," from con- con- + -templāre, -templārī, verbal derivative of templum "space of sky or land delimited orally by an augur, sacred precinct, building consecrated to a deity" temple:1

First known use: circa 1533t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Contemplate

Frequently Asked Questions about Contemplate

What does "Contemplate" mean?

"Contemplate" means to view or consider with continued attention, meditate on. As a verb, it is defined as: to view or consider with continued attention, meditate on. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Contemplate"?

Other words for "Contemplate" include chew over, cogitate, consider, debate, deliberate, entertain, eye and kick around. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Contemplate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Contemplate"?

There are 76 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Contemplate". Common alternatives include chew over, cogitate, consider, debate, deliberate, entertain, eye, kick around, meditate and mull (over).

How do you use "Contemplate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Contemplate" in a sentence: "she contemplated the problem for several hours before reaching a decision"; "he waited patiently, contemplating revenge all the while".

Is "Contemplate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Contemplate" is a verb.

Is "Contemplate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Contemplate" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Contemplate"?

"Contemplate" is pronounced /ˈkän-təm-ˌplāt/ and divided into syllables as con·tem·plate.

What is the origin of the word "Contemplate"?

"Contemplate" comes from borrowed from Latin contemplātus, past participle of contemplāre, contemplārī "to look at fixedly, observe, notice, ponder," from con- con- + -templāre, -templārī, verbal derivative of templum "space of sky or land delimited orally by an augur, sacred precinct, building consecrated to a deity" temple:1. First known use: circa 1533t.