contemplateverb [ I or T ]
uk/ˈkɒn.təm.pleɪt/us/ˈkɑːn.t̬əm.pleɪt/C2 to spend time considering a possible future action, or to consider one particular thing for a long time in a serious and quiet way:
[ + -ing verb ] I'm contemplating going abroad for a year.
They were contemplating a move to California.
It's too awful/horrific/dangerous to contemplate.
More examples
- I'm contemplating leaving my job.
- Losing a child is just too awful to contemplate.
- I couldn't contemplate living on my own.
- He was contemplating his future.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Thinking and contemplating
- -ly
- agonize over/about sth
- chew
- chew sth over
- chew the cud idiom
- chew your cud idiom
- depth
- lateral thinking
- let me see/let's see idiom
- let's see idiom
- meditate
- puzzle
- rack
- reflect
- the thought crosses sb's mind idiom
- think sth out
- think sth over
- think sth through
- thinking
- worry
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