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
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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
-
contemplatessimple
-
have contemplatedperfect
-
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:
Dahlia Lithwick: The decision in Slaughter will have knock-on effects that most people probably haven’t even begun to contemplate.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
A point, or three, against Brazil and nobody needs to contemplate such existential issues.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
He added that the department’s position is the state’s Administrative Procedure Act does not contemplate the commissioner or department staff authorizing intervention requests in the case.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
They were some 40 leading thinkers in economics, technology and public policy, and they had come to the Peterson Institute for International Economics to contemplate a vision of U.S. society in 2030.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026
She wanted to stay up and contemplate meeting her grandparents, but she was too exhausted.
From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata
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
When asked if he sees himself as Ruben, Gadd contemplates the question, debating whether it’s his “jetlagged brain” or ambivalence about finding some of Ruben within him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2026
The president is known to monitor the stock market and the state of the economy regularly while he contemplates policy decisions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 12, 2026
Bando joins me, folding his rod as he contemplates the dead tree and the leaf-strewn ground.
From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
He contemplated calling friends to run ideas by them when he got stuck but ultimately resisted.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
Nike last week said its results would get a lift from tariff refunds that were “not contemplated in the company’s previously provided guidance.”
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
Russell, 28, cut a forlorn figure afterwards as he contemplated the series of misfortunes that have derailed his season.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026
At the rapidly expanding AI on the Lot conference in Culver City, the “Taxi Driver” scripter mixed provocation and unease as he contemplated Hollywood’s future.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026
We drove in silence for a while as I contemplated the coming horror.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
This man, meanwhile, is contemplating waiting so that his wife will get a higher amount through survivor benefits in the event he dies before she does.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
Lionel Messi, at 39, remains Argentina's leader and inspiration, still capable of producing the magic that has this proud and passionate football country contemplating a repeat of their World Cup win four years ago.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
As Tarps Off started generating headlines, the Cardinals naturally began contemplating ways they could capitalize.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026
On this late May evening, the 15 men gathered there were contemplating tackling something few had previously had the courage or skill to take on.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
By the time he heard the rhythmic, rising chant of Joe Hernandez’s voice as he called the undercard races, Smith had begun contemplating scratching the horse once again.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
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.
