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ponder Definition

pon·der (pändər)

transitive verb

to weigh mentally; think deeply about; consider carefully

Etymology: ME ponderen < MFr ponderer < L ponderare, to weigh < pondus (gen. ponderis), weight: see pound

intransitive verb

to think deeply; deliberate; meditate

ponder Related Forms
pon·derer noun
ponder Synonyms

ponder

v.

meditate, deliberate, consider, reflect; see think 1.

ponder Usage Examples

Object

  • mystery: Have you ever stopped to ponder the mysteries of the paranormal?
  • fate: Midway through the poet ponders the fate of two swans, of whom we are told that " their state so much resembled ours.
  • meaning: Dani retired to the bar to ponder the meaning of life.
  • question: On our way home, we ponder the question of the siting of Macbeth's castle.
  • wisdom: We need to ponder the divine wisdom in this.
  • significance: He was obviously not the only man to have pondered the significance of UFO sightings.

Modifying Another Word

  • deeply: I pondered very deeply whether I should revisit this material.
  • seriously: I seriously pondered whether I should stop reading it all together.
  • still: Many of us are still pondering how we warn people who contact us for the first time... .
  • left: He is left pondering on the need of God to be loved, but he also was betrayed by humankind.
  • often: Notes I have often pondered at great length over this passage.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • upon: It does pose one interesting point that I often ponder upon - how insane are the people who hear these voices in their head?
  • over: Now, that's a thought for you to ponder over whilst I go over some of the songs here.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • over: N: Sonny took the customer away to inspect the moose, leaving the policemen to ponder over the mystery.

Used with why or when

  • why: Over the years I had pondered why the Bureau has this respect.
  • what: Ross was left to ponder what would have been a fine win against an inform opponent.
  • which: I find myself still pondering which profession I should pursue for myself.
  • who: Time for lunch, a rest and a chance to ponder who our next opponents would be.
  • where: This weekend we are invited to ponder where there are seeds of hope in our world.

Preposition: for

  • moment: So I pondered for a moment whether I could possibly carry all the various bits I had bought in my arms.
ponder Quotes

Whenindanger, ponder. Whenintrouble, delegate. And when in doubt, mumble.

—Wagner, Robert Ferdinand,Jr

Browse dictionary entries near ponder

  1. pond scum
  2. pond lily
  3. pond
  4. poncho
  5. Ponchielli
  6. Ponce de León
  7. ponce
  8. Ponca
  9. PON
  10. pompously
  1. ponderable
  2. ponderosa
  3. ponderosa (pine)
  4. ponderous
  5. Pondicherry
  6. pondweed
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  8. pong
  9. pongee
  10. pongid