contemplate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
contemplates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
contemplated,
past participle, past
-
contemplating
present participle
-
to look at or view with continued attention; observe or study thoughtfully.
to contemplate the stars.
-
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)
-
contemplates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
contemplated,
past participle, past
-
contemplating
present participle
verb
-
to think about intently and at length; consider calmly
-
(intr) to think intently and at length, esp for spiritual reasons; meditate
-
to look at thoughtfully; observe pensively
-
to have in mind as a possibility
to contemplate changing jobs
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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contemplatesimple
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contemplatessimple
-
have contemplatedperfect
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has contemplatedperfect
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am contemplatingprogressive
-
are contemplatingprogressive
-
is contemplatingprogressive
-
have been contemplatingperfect progressive
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has been contemplatingperfect progressive
Past
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contemplatedsimple
-
had contemplatedperfect
-
was contemplatingprogressive
-
were contemplatingprogressive
-
had been contemplatingperfect progressive
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.
See Examples For:
Conversely, with an album, you take it home, “keep it for 20 years and contemplate its tracks,” says Cohn.
From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026
One person close to him believed the time Buffett spent at home recuperating gave him an opportunity to contemplate the company’s future and the decision about when to step down.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
They now need to contemplate exactly how far the Fed will go to get inflation back under control, as well as what a longer Fed hiking cycle might mean for markets and the economy.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
Pass under the starlit ceiling of an ancient cave and contemplate the genetic connection between a horned tauntaun and a prehistoric bison painted a long, long time ago.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Blue is my second favorite color, and I’m almost afraid to contemplate that the lovely dress might actually be for me.
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
The series contemplates topics like shady lending practices by financial institutions — something that will resonate deeply with today’s economy — and the ethics of placing oneself in a news story.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
As the seventh generation of his family to fish for eels on Lough Neagh, he gets emotional when he contemplates the future.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Meanwhile, Sam Adams contemplates the film’s ending, arguing that Nolan’s final plot twist changes the meaning of the whole story.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
The anthemic opening track, “The Lucky Ones,” has the singer at the wheel on tour, wondering “how far, how long can we go” while he contemplates road dangers and lost friends.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026
The kid contemplates crying a bit harder but straightens up almost immediately.
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
Alito had openly contemplated retiring, while Thomas had stoutly resisted the idea.
From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2026
But successful designs have become more seriously contemplated only in recent years as electric motors and high-performance batteries have advanced.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
They asked their supervisors to approve a new investigation and contemplated using undercover operatives to gather more evidence.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
But it certainly shouldn’t be expanded to the extent contemplated here—opening the federal courts to any passerby with a vague aesthetic grievance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Although he had never really contemplated the possibility before, Captain Black understood at once that he was the logical man to succeed Major Duluth as squadron commander.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
House and Senate, but also the governorships of states such as Texas, Ohio and Georgia, investors are now contemplating more roadblocks emerging for the construction of data centers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
An emotional Mark Allen said retiring from snooker is "something I have been contemplating for a while" following his first-round loss to Jordan Brown in the Northern Ireland Open.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
“Misty Green” is the first movie Rock has helmed in 12 years — a welcome return — and its title, SoCal setting and spurts of soul music announce he’s been contemplating Quentin Tarantino’s “Jackie Brown.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
While he said talks would resume this week, that was unable to lift the gloom on trading floors, with traders contemplating further rises in inflation that will force the Fed to tighten monetary policy more.
From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026
Oddly enough, contemplating the after life seems easier right now.
From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
