CONTEMPLATE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does contemplate mean? 

• CONTEMPLATE (verb)
  The verb CONTEMPLATE has 4 senses:

1. look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought

2. consider as a possibility

3. think intently and at length, as for spiritual purposes

4. reflect deeply on a subject

  Familiarity information: CONTEMPLATE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CONTEMPLATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they contemplate    ... he / she / it contemplates   
Past simple: contemplated   
Past participle: contemplated   
-ing form: contemplating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

contemplate one's navel

Hypernyms (to "contemplate" is one way to...):

consider; look at; view (look at carefully; study mentally)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

contemplation (a long and thoughtful observation)

contemplation (a calm, lengthy, intent consideration)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Consider as a possibility

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

I contemplated leaving school and taking a full-time job

Hypernyms (to "contemplate" is one way to...):

consider; deal; look at; take (take into consideration for exemplifying purposes)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "contemplate"):

entertain; flirt with; think about; think of; toy with (take into consideration, have in view)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

Derivation:

contemplation (a calm, lengthy, intent consideration)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Think intently and at length, as for spiritual purposes

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

contemplate; meditate; study

Context example:

He is meditating in his study

Hypernyms (to "contemplate" is one way to...):

cerebrate; cogitate; think (use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

contemplation (a calm, lengthy, intent consideration)

contemplative (deeply or seriously thoughtful)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Reflect deeply on a subject

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

chew over; contemplate; excogitate; meditate; mull; mull over; muse; ponder; reflect; ruminate; speculate; think over

Context example:

The scientist must stop to observe and start to excogitate

Hypernyms (to "contemplate" is one way to...):

cerebrate; cogitate; think (use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "contemplate"):

premeditate (think or reflect beforehand or in advance)

theologise; theologize (make theoretical speculations about theology or discuss theological subjects)

introspect (reflect on one's own thoughts and feelings)

bethink (consider or ponder something carefully)

cogitate (consider carefully and deeply; reflect upon; turn over in one's mind)

question; wonder (place in doubt or express doubtful speculation)

puzzle (be uncertain about; think about without fully understanding or being able to decide)

consider; study (give careful consideration to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

contemplation (a calm, lengthy, intent consideration)

contemplative (deeply or seriously thoughtful)

 Context examples 

I told him I was well convinced of it; and I hinted that I hoped the time might even come, when he would cease to lead the lonely life he naturally contemplated now.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He, too, had been told of her contemplated Eastern trip, and he felt the need for haste.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

You amused me by supposing that I was contemplating the possibility of someone having in broad daylight, under the eyes of all these opposite rooms, forced himself through it.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I had no notion that he liked me so very much,” said Harriet, contemplating the letter.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

But there are things old and new which must not be contemplate by men's eyes, because they know—or think they know—some things which other men have told them.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

He contemplated the bones, clean-picked and polished, pink with the cell-life in them which had not yet died.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

At other times I seriously contemplated suicide, and the whole force of my hopeful philosophy was required to keep me from going over the side in the darkness of night.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

While my companion contemplated with a serious and satisfied spirit the magnificent appearances of things, I delighted in investigating their causes.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

She contemplated it, however, in spite of this drawback, with much emotion, and, but for a yet stronger interest, would have left it unwillingly.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

She could not contemplate the change as implying less.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)