contemplate
[verb]
Synonyms:
- think about, consider, deliberate, meditate, muse over, ponder, reflect upon, ruminate (upon)
- consider, envisage, expect, foresee, intend, plan, think of
- look at, examine, eye up, gaze at, inspect, regard, stare at, study, survey, view

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Related Idioms: have in view
Related Words: ponder, reflect, study, examine, inspect, scan, scrutinize, drift, roam

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English Thesaurus: think, consider, weigh, give something some/a lot of thought, mull something over, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

con‧tem‧plate /ˈkɒntəmpleɪt $ ˈkɑːn-/ verb
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: past participle of contemplari, from com- ( ⇒ COM-) + templum (, temple)]

1. [transitive] to think about something that you might do in the future Synonym : consider:
He had even contemplated suicide.
contemplate doing something
Did you ever contemplate resigning?

2. [transitive] to accept the possibility that something is true
too dreadful/horrifying etc to contemplate
The thought that she might be dead was too terrible to contemplate.

3. [intransitive and transitive] to think about something seriously for a period of time Synonym : consider:
Jack went on vacation to contemplate his future.
contemplate what/whether/how etc
She sat down and contemplated what she had done.
contemplate your navel (=think so much about your own life that you do not notice other important things – used humorously)

4. [transitive] to look at someone or something for a period of time in a way that shows you are thinking:
He contemplated her with a faint smile.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

contemplate
verb
ADV. seriously She was seriously contemplating working abroad.
VERB + CONTEMPLATE be prepared to, be willing to Are you prepared to contemplate retraining?
cannot, could not | refuse to
PHRASES too awful/horrible/horrific to contemplate The thought of war was too awful to contemplate.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

think to use your mind to decide about something, form an opinion, imagine something etc:
I’ve been thinking about what you said – maybe you’re right.
I need some time to think.
consider to think about something carefully before deciding what to do:
Have you considered working for a year before going to college?
weigh (also weigh up British English) to carefully think about a plan or choice by comparing all the advantages and disadvantages involved:
You need to weigh up the pros and cons (=the advantages and disadvantages), and decide which investment is the best one for you.
The committee are still weighing the alternatives.
give something some/a lot of thought to think carefully about something, before you make a final decision about it:
Why don’t you give it some thought and then get back to me?
He had obviously given the matter a lot of thought.
mull something over to think about a problem, plan etc before making a decision:
Can you give me a bit of time to mull it over?
ponder to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about something, especially a problem or something complicated:
She is still pondering what to do.
Officials are pondering ways to remove the oil from the beaches.
contemplate to think about something you might do in the future:
Did you ever contemplate resigning?
reflect formal to think carefully about something, especially something that happened in the past:
It was a good time to reflect upon the changes that had happened in my life.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

think:
I think you’re right.
She didn’t think that the film was very good.
believe to have an opinion that you are sure is right, especially about an important subject such as politics or religion:
The protestors believe that it is wrong to experiment on animals.
Do you really believe that the only solution to violence is more violence?
feel to have a particular opinion, especially one that is based on your feelings, not on facts:
She feels that there is no alternative.
I just felt that it was the right thing to do.
take the view that formal to have a particular opinion:
The court took the view that the company had acted unreasonably.
The college takes the view that smoking in the workplace is a fire risk.
consider to think about something carefully before deciding what to do:
Have you considered working for a year before going to college?
weigh (also weigh up British English) to carefully think about a plan or choice by comparing all the advantages and disadvantages involved:
You need to weigh up the pros and cons (=the advantages and disadvantages), and decide which investment is the best one for you.
The committee are still weighing the alternatives.
give something some/a lot of thought to think carefully about something, before you make a final decision about it:
Why don’t you give it some thought and then get back to me?
He had obviously given the matter a lot of thought.
mull something over to think about a problem, plan etc before making a decision:
Can you give me a bit of time to mull it over?
ponder to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about something, especially a problem or something complicated:
She is still pondering what to do.
Officials are pondering ways to remove the oil from the beaches.
contemplate to think about something you might do in the future:
Did you ever contemplate resigning?
reflect formal to think carefully about something, especially something that happened in the past:
It was a good time to reflect upon the changes that had happened in my life.
brood to keep thinking for a long time about something that worries you or that makes you angry or upset:
There’s no point brooding over things you can’t change.
dwell on something to spend too much time thinking about something sad or unpleasant:
I try to enjoy my life today and not dwell on the past.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲