- 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.
Maxine is, after all, also an artist, trying to preserve her relationship with her children while going through a divorce, contemplating just how honest to be as she works through her mind’s frenzied state.
From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2026
“After a few years of contemplating whether I wanted to continue chasing a dream I had as a little kid, I have decided to go for it,” Ohashi wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
As Tarps Off started generating headlines, the Cardinals naturally began contemplating ways they could capitalize.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026
Other veteran “60 Minutes” correspondents, including Lesley Stahl and Bill Whitaker, are said to be contemplating their exits External link.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
I grab a handful of Cheetos and feed them into my mouth one by one as if I’m operating mastication machinery, contemplating how to tell Fizz about the latest development on the Jeremy front.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
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.
