- present participle of contemplate.
contemplating
Americanadjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of contemplating
First recorded in 1580–90; contemplat(e) ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective; contemplat(e) ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun
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.
Rojas has shied away from a full farewell tour but is contemplating returning after the season and transitioning into a player development role.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
Alex Kirshner explains why Michigan’s latest controversy has spectators contemplating the nature of time itself.
From Slate ● Sep. 10, 2026
As a result, oil refiners are focusing on maximizing output now to take advantage of today’s circumstances instead of contemplating an expansion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
The 41-year-old married his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, on Tuesday and is contemplating a future orientated around his family.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
When she opened them she saw her uncle sitting on the sofa contemplating her placidly.
From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee
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.
