contemplating
Americanadjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived 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.
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
Griffin himself called the video “creepy and weird,” publicly contemplating pulling out of anchoring a new building at 350 Park Avenue.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
At this point, Venegas briefly glances at the rows of books inside the lending library, as if contemplating the vastness of human creativity.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
People contemplating leaving the workforce should consider questions like: What hobbies or interests do they want to nurture?
From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026
When I’d finished, he laced his fingers as if he were contemplating a difficult problem.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
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.
