# contemplate

/ˈkɑntəmˌpɫeɪt/ (US) · /kˈɒntɪmplˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/contemplate
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to think deeply

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to look at or think about something carefully for a long time.

For teachers: to observe or consider something with continued attention and deliberate care.

- She sat by the window to contemplate the meaning of the letter she had just received.
- The philosopher spent his final years in the mountains, where he could contemplate the complexities of human existence without distraction.

Usage: Often used with a direct object representing an abstract concept or a physical object of beauty.

### 2. to consider a possibility

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to think about doing something in the future.

For teachers: to consider a particular course of action as a serious possibility.

- The couple began to contemplate moving to the countryside after their first child was born.
- Faced with declining profits, the board of directors had to contemplate the possibility of closing several international branches.

Usage: When followed by another verb, it requires the gerund form.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse this with 'think about'; remind them that 'contemplate' implies a more serious or formal level of consideration.

## Examples

- I need some time alone to contemplate my future.
- She sat by the lake for hours to contemplate the difficult career choice she had to make.
- While some investors react impulsively to market fluctuations, others prefer to contemplate the long-term structural shifts in the economy before reallocating their capital.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.