contemplate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to look at or view with continued attention; observe or study thoughtfully.
to contemplate the stars.
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to consider thoroughly; think fully or deeply about.
to contemplate a difficult problem.
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to have as a purpose; intend.
The District Attorney's office does not contemplate any charges.
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to have in view as a future event.
to contemplate buying a new car.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to think about intently and at length; consider calmly
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(intr) to think intently and at length, esp for spiritual reasons; meditate
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to look at thoughtfully; observe pensively
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to have in mind as a possibility
to contemplate changing jobs
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has contemplatedperfect 3rd person singular
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have contemplatedperfect
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have been contemplatingperfect progressive
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has been contemplatingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is contemplatingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are contemplatingprogressive
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am contemplatingprogressive 1st person singular
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contemplatingparticiple
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contemplatessingular 3rd person
Past
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had been contemplatingperfect progressive
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had contemplatedperfect
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was contemplatingprogressive singular
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contemplatedsimple
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contemplatedparticiple
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were contemplatingprogressive plural
Future
Etymology
Origin of contemplate
First recorded in 1585–95; from Latin contemplātus, past participle of contemplāre, contemplārī “to survey, observe,” equivalent to con- “with, together” + templ(um) “space marked off for augural observation” + -ātus past participle suffix; see origin at con-, temple 1, -ate 1
Explanation
Before you accept a job offer, or a college's offer of admission, you should take time to contemplate the pros and cons of your decision. If you contemplate something, you think about it carefully. Contemplate is from Latin contemplatus, past participle of contemplari "to gaze attentively, observe," from the prefix com- "together" plus templum "temple." The original meaning of Latin contemplari was "to mark out a space for observing auguries or omens," and the temple was a holy space reserved for this purpose.
Vocabulary lists containing contemplate
Of Mice and Men
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List 5
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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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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.
“The thought that leads me to contemplate with dread the erasure of other voices, of unwritten novels, poems whispered or swallowed for fear of being overheard — that thought is a nightmare,” she said.
From Salon • May 31, 2026
Seriously, though, sad as I am to contemplate life without “Hacks,” I am equally thrilled that the show so thoroughly stuck its landing.
From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026
Those who contemplate Sparta’s trajectory will not, one hopes, be as blind to history’s lessons as the Greeks themselves were.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
But some things stay the same and, as they contemplate entering a third decade in power, it is SNP politicians and their supporters who are celebrating this weekend.
From BBC • May 9, 2026
I contemplate asking to switch uniform skirts with her since hers is too short and mine is so long.
From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi
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.
