ponder
verb
transitive verb
intransitive verb
Synonyms
- chew over
- cogitate
- consider
- contemplate
- debate
- deliberate
- entertain
- eye
- kick around
- meditate
- mull (over)
- perpend
- pore (over)
- question
- revolve
- ruminate
- study
- think (about or over)
- turn
- weigh
- wrestle (with)
Example Sentences
Dennis Overbye, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2022 The anniversary of her death gives the world the opportunity to ponder her legacy and recommit to those who need compassion and care. Jim Towey, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 One scenario forced a group to ponder whether bankruptcy is ever acceptable. David Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2022 Brewers beat reporter Todd Rosiak joins host JR Radcliffe to ponder if there's anything to suggest this Brewers team can still make a run to the playoffs. Jr Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2020 Instead, the researchers’ theoretical models, which ponder the possibility of microscopic wormholes, draw from three theories to harness the power of elementary particles: relativity theory, quantum theory, and electrodynamics. Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 31 Aug. 2022 While the remaining Pac-12 members ponder their next broadcast rights deal, the network presses on with more questions than ever. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 16 Aug. 2022 But as Western countries ponder additional doses, low-income countries are still struggling to vaccinate those who need it the most. Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 10 Aug. 2022 Aftermath: While the Astros fine tune and ponder how to enjoy a first-round bye, Cleveland can’t directly chase down the Twins until seven games in September. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 5 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Middle English, from Middle French ponderer, from Latin ponderare to weigh, ponder, from ponder-, pondus weight — more at pendant
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
ponder
verb
Mildred D. Taylor, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cryponder
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- contemplate
- consider
- debate
- entertain
- question
- study
- weigh
- explore
- ruminate
- analyze
- eye
- cogitate
- meditate
- review
- deliberate
- look at
- revolve
- chew on
- chew over
- perpend
- digest
- reminisce
- mull (over)
- turn
- reason
- think (about or over)
- wrestle (with)
- kick around
- pore (over)
- cudgel one's brains (about)
- believe
- beat one's brains out (about)
- conclude
- opine
- absorb
- conceive
- muse (upon)
- reflect (on or upon)
- assimilate
- second-guess
- speculate (about)
- fret (about or over)
- dwell (on or upon)
- fixate (on or upon)
- brood (about or over)
- obsess (about or over)
- drink (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignore
- slight
- overlook
- disregard
- dismiss
- reject
- pooh
- pooh-pooh
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of ponder are meditate, muse, and ruminate. While all these words mean "to consider or examine attentively or deliberately," ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter.
While the synonyms meditate and ponder are close in meaning, meditate implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something so as to understand it deeply.
The synonyms muse and ponder are sometimes interchangeable, but muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance.
The words ruminate and ponder are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ruminate implies going over the same matter in one's thoughts again and again but suggests little of either purposive thinking or rapt absorption.