contemplation

American  

[kon-tuhm-play-shuhn, -tem-] / ˌkɒn təmˈpleɪ ʃən, -tɛm- /

noun

• contemplations
  plural

1. the act of contemplating; thoughtful observation.

2. full or deep consideration; reflection.

   religious contemplation.

3. purpose or intention.

4. prospect or expectation.

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contemplation British  

/ ˌkɒntɛmˈpleɪʃən, -təm- /

noun

1. thoughtful or long consideration or observation

2. spiritual meditation esp (in Christian religious practice) concentration of the mind and soul upon God Compare meditation

3. purpose or intention

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• precontemplation
  noun
• recontemplation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• contemplations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of contemplation

First recorded in 1175–1225; from Latin contemplātiōn-, stem of contemplātiō; equivalent to contemplate + -ion; replacing Middle English contemplaci(o)un, from Anglo-French, from Latin, as above

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Explanation

Contemplation is long, hard thinking about something. If you’re writing a book on the meaning of the universe, then you’re going to need to do a great deal of contemplation. Contemplate has the word temple in its roots, and originally referred to the kind of thinking you do in a special space set aside for observation. Now we use it to describe any kind of thinking that we spend a long time doing. While clicking on someone’s photos on Facebook doesn’t count as contemplation, usually, you might spend hours in contemplation of your family and your history if you come across a box of old photos in the attic.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

contemplation contemplations

The room is described as a "calm, cosy place for contemplation" by the independent charity which looks after six royal sites and palaces.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

The pair’s voices complement each other, striking a balance between relaxed contemplation and intensity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

Throughout the film, alongside the contemplation on the sacrifices he’s made for his work, McElwee repeatedly revisits the importance of filmmaking from different angles: as a tool for preservation, for storytelling, for survival.

From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026

The initial tone is one of tranquil contemplation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

“I trust you spent the weekend in contemplation, Mr. Morales.”

From "The Dead and the Gone" by Susan Beth Pfeffer

First, pessimism is the natural state for any contemplations of peace in the Middle East.

From Slate ● Oct. 10, 2025

Visitors to the Hsi Lai Temple dining hall are encouraged to participate in five meal contemplations:

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2023

And when Bach’s bouncy Courante followed that section’s extended contemplations, it sounded a little slick — a puzzle piece that had been smoothed out to fit a place where it didn’t belong.

From New York Times ● Apr. 2, 2023

Although it taps into the same aimlessness that fuels the other tracks on “Nacarile,” iLe considers it one of the more “hopeful” contemplations.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 15, 2023

The marble baths and the contemplations in the temples.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

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Related Words

• meditation
• reflection
• reverie

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