ponder
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have ponderedperfect
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has ponderedperfect 3rd person singular
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have been ponderingperfect progressive
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is ponderingprogressive 3rd person singular
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ponderssingular 3rd person
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are ponderingprogressive
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has been ponderingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am ponderingprogressive 1st person singular
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ponderingparticiple
Past
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had ponderedperfect
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were ponderingprogressive plural
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had been ponderingperfect progressive
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ponderedsimple
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ponderedparticiple
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was ponderingprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of ponder
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pondren, from Middle French ponderer, from Latin ponderāre “to weigh, reflect on,” derivative of pondus “weight”; akin to pendēre “to be suspended, hang” ( see pend)
Explanation
"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary" is the first line of Edgar Allan Poe's poem The Raven. Many a deep thinker has repeated it while musing. But if you've given up deep thinking, you may say instead, "Nevermore." Think of ponder as reflecting on weighty thoughts. It will help you remember the definition if you can remember the word's Latin roots. It comes from ponderare, which literally meant to weigh, and pondus, which means weight. People sometimes use the word ironically, for example, when someone asks you to do something you really don't want to do. You may tap your chin for a second and say, "Let me ponder that." Pause. "Um, no!"
Vocabulary lists containing ponder
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 2
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"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 12–15
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ponder also the sudden ubiquity of advertisements for personal-injury law firms that promise to get their clients ample reward for damages.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
Ponder was driving a 2023 Tesla Model 3 early on March 1, according to the Colorado State Patrol, when he lost control on a right hand curve.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026
Ponder some observations made recently by the British historian Tom Holland.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 3, 2025
Ayamé Ponder, one of the nominees for creator of the year, says she "gets both sides of the argument" but thinks influencers "get a bad rep".
From BBC • Dec. 2, 2024
“Some things just do not bear thinking about. Eat your tuna fish. Ponder your riddle.”
From "Raymie Nightingale" by Kate DiCamillo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
