Contemplate
/ˈkɑːntəmpleɪt/
verbB2
Definition
Contemplate means to look at or think about something very carefully and deeply. It often involves quiet, serious thought about important ideas, decisions, or problems. People contemplate when they want to understand something better or decide what to do.
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⚡ See It in Action
To think deeply about something
- •She contemplated the meaning of the poem for hours.
- •Before making a choice, he contemplated all the possible outcomes.
- •They contemplated moving to a new city but were unsure.
To look carefully at something for a long time
- •He contemplated the painting, noticing every detail.
- •She sat quietly, contemplating the sunset.
- •The scientist contemplated the experiment results before writing a report.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "contemplate" like "think" (A1 word), but much slower and deeper—like sitting quietly and focusing only on one idea for a long time
- ✓Picture someone sitting alone by a lake, watching the water and thinking carefully about their future
- ✓It's the feeling when you pause and try to understand a difficult question or choice before acting
- ✓Sounds like "CON-tem-plate" → imagine a plate in front of you with many small pieces of food, and you carefully look at each piece before eating
- ✓Think of famous thinkers or philosophers who spend hours contemplating big questions about life and meaning
- ✓NOT like "guess" (quick, without much thought), "contemplate" means slow, careful thinking
- ✓NOT like "decide" (final choice), "contemplate" is the thinking before deciding
- ✓NOT like "look" (just seeing), "contemplate" means thinking deeply while looking or without looking
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Consider: to think carefully about something (Use when you weigh options or possibilities before deciding)
- •Reflect: to think deeply, often about past events or feelings (Use when thinking about personal experiences or ideas)
- •Ponder: to think about something carefully and for a long time (Use for serious or difficult subjects)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "con-" (with, together) + "template" (from Latin "templum" meaning space for observation or thought)
- •Etymology: From Latin "contemplari," meaning to observe or look at carefully
- •Historical development: Originally meant to observe or watch carefully, later came to mean deep thinking or meditation
- •Modern usage: Used to describe deep thinking or careful consideration, often before decisions or understanding complex ideas
💭 Reflect & Connect
•When was the last time you had to contemplate an important decision? How did it feel to think deeply like that?
•How does contemplating a problem slowly help you make better choices compared to quick decisions?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.Before making a big decision, it is important to contemplate the possible ___ carefully.
2.She sat quietly to contemplate the ___ of the situation before speaking.
3.Unlike a quick guess, to contemplate means to think ___ and deeply.
4.When artists contemplate their work, they often notice ___ details others miss.
5.People often contemplate their future during moments of ___ and silence.
6.He contemplated ___ moving abroad but was unsure about the challenges.
7.Contemplating a problem usually comes ___ making a final choice.