ponder
verb
pon·der ˈpän-dər 
pondered; pondering ˈpän-d(ə-)riŋ
transitive verb
1
: to weigh in the mind : appraise
pondered their chances of success
2
: to think about : reflect on
pondered the events of the day
intransitive verb
: to think or consider especially quietly, soberly, and deeply
ponderer
ˈpän-dər-ər
noun 
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)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He pondered the question before he answered. The team pondered their chances of success. We pondered whether we could afford the trip.
Recent Examples on the Web A year later, in November 1961, 10 scientists, including luminaries like the young Carl Sagan and John Lilly, who was trying to learn to communicate with dolphins, convened at the Green Bank observatory to ponder the extraterrestrial question. 
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
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
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French ponderer, from Latin ponderare to weigh, ponder, from ponder-, pondus weight — more at pendant
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
ponder
verb
pon·der ˈpän-dər
pondered; pondering
: to think over carefully
Stacey pondered the suggestion for a long moment … Mildred D. Taylor, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Mildred D. Taylor, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Crypondering 1 of 2
noun
as in contemplation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- contemplation
- thought
- rumination
- cogitation
- meditation
- reflection
- consideration
- deliberation
- debate
- study
- introspection
- agonizing
- indecision
- advisement
- hesitation
- account
- premeditation
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- short shrift
pondering
2 of 2verb
as in contemplating
to give serious and careful thought to I'm pondering whether or not I should join another committee Synonyms & Similar Words
- contemplating
- debating
- considering
- studying
- questioning
- entertaining
- weighing
- exploring
- eyeing
- ruminating
- cogitating
- analyzing
- deliberating
- reviewing
- eying
- meditating
- looking at
- revolving
- digesting
- chewing on
- chewing over
- perpending
- turning
- reminiscing
- kicking around
- reasoning
- mulling (over)
- thinking (about or over)
- wrestling (with)
- concluding
- beating one's brains out (about)
- believing
- poring (over)
- cudgeling one's brains (about)
- opining
- absorbing
- conceiving
- reflecting (on or upon)
- assimilating
- second-guessing
- musing (upon)
- speculating (about)
- dwelling (on or upon)
- fixating (on or upon)
- obsessing (about or over)
- fretting (about or over)
- brooding (about or over)
- drinking (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignoring
- disregarding
- overlooking
- dismissing
- rejecting
- slighting
- pooh-poohing
- poohing