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contemplate Definition

con·tem·plate (kän′təm plāt′)

transitive verb -·plat′ed, -·plat′·ing

  1. to look at intently; gaze at
  2. to think about intently; study carefully
  3. to have in mind as a possibility or plan; intend

Etymology: < L contemplatus, pp. of contemplari, to gaze attentively, observe (orig., in augury, to mark out space for observation < com-, intens. + templum, temple

intransitive verb

to meditate or muse, sometimes specif. in a religious or mystical way

contemplate Related Forms

con′·tem·pla′·tor noun

contemplate Synonyms

contemplate

v.

  1. To look at

    regard, view, scan, inspect, examine, gaze at, notice, witness, pore over, peer, pry, behold, observe thoughtfully, study, scrutinize, survey, observe, look over, audit, probe, penetrate, pierce; see also examine 1, see 1, witness.

    Antonyms neglect, disregard*, slight. *

  2. To consider

    ponder, muse, speculate on, envision; see consider 3, think 1. See syn. study at consider.

contemplate Usage Examples

Object

  • suicide: Adolf Mukandi has contemplated suicide rather than be sent home to Zimbabwe.
  • possibility: He appeared to be contemplating the possibility that I had totally lost my sanity.
  • divorce: Episode 17 In which the bride contemplates divorce and other catastrophes.
  • retirement: Our feature article below may help those contemplating retirement.
  • marriage: Cecil, a successful novelist living comfortably with his fussy butler, is contemplating marriage.
  • mystery: This is what St. Ignatius Loyola intended and desired when he taught his pupils to contemplate the Mysteries of the Life of Christ.

Subject

agreement: Xbridge will only use the information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and as contemplated by this agreement.

Modifying Another Word

  • seriously: Julius Caesar was the first Roman leader to contemplate seriously the invasion of the British Isles.
  • even: Stuck up cow I can't even contemplate sharing a bathroom with someone, let alone a single bedroom.
  • briefly: I briefly contemplated hauling them out of the house before opening their presents, but it really would not have been fair.
  • before: The sheer size of this has never been seen before, never been contemplated before.

Used with why or when

  • what: They did not even want to contemplate what the situation was now.
  • which: This can at times be a tricky decision and it is not uncommon to sit there for a few minutes contemplating which to upgrade.

Present participle complement

  • abandon: Back in those days, I would never have contemplated abandoning Polaris.
  • buy: Second Hand Many people wishing to buy drums contemplate buying second-hand.
  • move: Back to top 10.8 1987 On 20 January 1987 Mr H wrote to OBD saying that he was contemplating moving to live in Spain.
  • join: But, one wonders: Why did they ever even contemplate joining BUFORA in the first place?
  • sell: Once you start contemplating selling personal information to third parties you're on a slippery slope, " he told us.
  • travel: Please do so if you are contemplating traveling some distance.

Preposition: by

agreement: Xbridge will only use the information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and as contemplated by this agreement.