contemplating

American

[kon-tuhm-pley-ting, -tem-] / ˈkɒn təmˌpleɪ tɪŋ, -tɛm- /

adjective

observing, studying, or thinking deeply about something.

A stronger spirit and sense of purpose help shift the contemplating mind into a more action-orientated self.

noun

the act of observing, studying, or thinking deeply about something.

After some more contemplating over the last few days, I now know what I'm going to do.

Other Word Forms

contemplatingly

adverb

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.

Increasingly economists are contemplating a scenario where the central bank makes no change to rates.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

Edmond de Rothschild said it isn’t contemplating a merger or sale.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Amid the ongoing preparation for the trial, some sources have alleged that Lively and Reynolds, 49, are contemplating a move overseas in a bid to escape the fallout from the actress’s feud with Baldoni.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

Stafford is at the far end of his career, Jimmy Garoppolo is a free agent contemplating retirement, and fourth-year pro Stetson Bennett has not played in a regular season game.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

A little way to his left, Ernie Macmillan was contemplating his hoop so hard that his face had turned pink; it looked as though he was straining to lay a Quaffle-sized egg.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023