ponder
- to consider something deeply and thoroughly; meditate (often followed by over or upon).
- to weigh carefully in the mind; consider thoughtfully: He pondered his next words thoroughly.
Origin of ponder
Synonyms for ponder
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for ponder
consider, mull, contemplate, evaluate, deliberate, reflect, examine, weigh, speculate, brood, cerebrate, figure, daydream, debate, study, mind, moon, muse, excogitate, revolveExamples from the Web for ponder
Contemporary Examples of ponder
He said he uses the quiet time at night to ponder a move to Puerto Rico or maybe Hawaii.
Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired.David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News
December 9, 2014
Now that we have gotten over these multifarious horribles, we are obliged to ponder the bigger picture.
Finally, ponder exactly how Maher will make his final choice of congresscritter.
Bill Maher’s Plan To Defeat One Lousy Congressman Is Good for (Almost) EveryoneJames Poulos
February 16, 2014
Gone are the working-man dive bars where Joyce would binge drink and ponder his literary hardship.
No wonder Kerry said he had a lot to ponder before going to bed.
Historical Examples of ponder
Let them ponder on the probability of succeeding with the people.
Sunday under Three HeadsCharles Dickens
As I eat my breakfast and smoke my pipe, I ponder over my task.
Ballads of a BohemianRobert W. Service
There was so much time for the Little Girl who should have been a Boy to ponder over it.
The Very Small PersonAnnie Hamilton Donnell
He's always in a ponder, ponder, with his mouth open—except when he's grindin' his teeth.
The Shadow of a CrimeHall Caine
But Asad continued to ponder him with cold eyes, his face inscrutable.
The Sea-HawkRaphael Sabatini
ponder
- (when intr, sometimes foll by on or over) to give thorough or deep consideration (to); meditate (upon)
Word Origin for ponder
Word Origin and History for ponder
early 14c., "to estimate the worth of, to appraise," from Old French ponderer "to weigh, poise" (14c., Modern French pondérer) and directly from Latin ponderare "ponder, consider, reflect," literally "to weigh," from pondus (genitive ponderis) "weigh" (see pound (n.1)). Meaning "to weigh a matter mentally" is attested from late 14c. Related: Pondered; pondering; ponderation.