1Look thoughtfully for a long time at.

1. 1.1 Think about.
   she couldn't even begin to contemplate the future

   Example sentencesExamples

   • And, during the dwindling seconds of her last game, she started to contemplate her future.
   • Five years ago, Mark was contemplating his future as a cyclist.
   • As I contemplated my future as a father, I saw my past in a new light.
   • And I'll just be spending the next period of months in the lead-up to Christmas contemplating my longer-term future.
   • While the hectic pace at work has slowed down some, we now have time to contemplate the future.
   • It can feel like an overwhelming position but one that you are considering if you have begun to contemplate your readiness.
   • I think they're vast and we can barely begin to contemplate them.
   • The amateur show jumper is contemplating his future in the sport.
   • In its place is a man contemplating a future outwith his control.
   • She has also resigned from that candidacy to contemplate her future options.
   • No wonder she is contemplating a future role in politics.
   • I admit I have become increasingly frustrated by the low number of hits on my site, so I took a few days off to feel sorry for myself and contemplate my blogging future.
   • Globalization activists face hard choices now as they contemplate the future of the movement.
   • I spent some time yesterday contemplating my future work career.
   • Frankie and Monnie will be an inspiration to anyone else in the future who might be contemplating taking up a challenge in which the odds are stacked against them.
   • He began contemplating a political race before his 16-year-old son died in a 1996 car crash.
   • We are only now beginning to contemplate the real issues of being Independent and socially responsible for whatever happens here.
   • I boarded a plane for 20 hours of flying - lots of time to reflect on the past and contemplate the future.
   • I had begun to contemplate the possibility of a life entirely without her.
   • At the antiquarian book and paper event I began contemplating a collection of examples of antique handwriting to complement my fountain pens.

   Synonyms

   think about, meditate on/over, consider, ponder, reflect on/about, mull over, muse on, dwell on, deliberate over, cogitate on/about, ruminate on/about, chew over, brood on/about, puzzle over, turn over in one's mind, weigh up

   consider, think about, give thought to

   have in mind/view, envisage, aim at, foresee, imagine, visualize

   intend, propose, mean to, expect to
2. 1.2no object Think deeply and at length.
   he sat morosely contemplating

   Example sentencesExamples

   • It's a real gem and a great place to sit and contemplate, with cliffs rising behind.
   • I sit there for a while chewing and contemplating, which I think can be considered multitasking.
   • My first teacher practiced for a long time with Quakers because they were the only group in her area that found the same value in sitting still and contemplating.
   • Found a nice spot on the cement embankment, away from the spray, and sat down to contemplate on life.
   • Loneliness simply isn't an excuse for what Jones had been contemplating for some considerable time.
   • Seats carved with verses - many referring to Lady Mary and her empathy with the scenery - have been placed at strategic intervals along the route, to sit and contemplate.
   • We want it to be used by the community and for people to sit in the quiet and contemplate as much as possible and this money will help us do that.
   • She pulled into the parking lot and just sat there, contemplating.
   • The group would be responsible for encouraging people to visit the cemetery to use it as a quiet place to sit and contemplate.
   • The explanation is still worrying to contemplate.
   • As Boone sits on the beach contemplating what could have been, he turns to look at Jack with a resentment that goes unnoticed.
   • She sat there contemplating awhile before she excused herself.
   • Three meals a day are taken in a group, but in silence and as another form of meditation, as each mouthful is slowly chewed and contemplated.
   • The books, then, organize a continuing meditation on connections that is more important to contemplate and consider than to solve as if it were a puzzle.
   • He sat, contemplating, then said, ‘You look far better in white than any other color, I say,’
   • They need time to quietly review, contemplate, journal, mull over, and reflect about their attitudes and actions.
   • These are some of the considerations we are now contemplating.
   • It's at times like these when I sit and contemplate and plot.
   • I sat there contemplating when he asked me something.
   • As students speculate, stop and contemplate, little evidence to its precursor can be found.

   Synonyms

   think, think about, consider, give thought to, give consideration to, mull over, meditate, meditate on, muse, muse on, ponder, ponder on, ponder over, reflect, reflect on, deliberate, deliberate about, deliberate on, ruminate, ruminate about, ruminate on, ruminate over, dwell on, brood, brood on, brood over, agonize, agonize over, worry, worry about, chew over, puzzle, puzzle over, speculate about, weigh up, revolve, turn over in one's mind, review, study, be in a brown study
3. 1.3 Have in view as a probable intention.
   he was contemplating action for damages

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The book forced me to contemplate my own intentions in participating in a graduate education program that has a partnership with a predominantly Black school.
   • It does not contemplate damage of the present type.
   • But when we actually contemplated some evil intention directed towards us, it seemed a little chillier.
   • So why is nobody scrambling to acquire them or at least contemplate a joint venture?
   • It's a short trip from the stadium where France's campaign ended, but a long journey on which to contemplate the seismic damage done to the reputation of French football and footballers.
   • A similar project was being contemplated in the Riverstown area but that was in the early stages at the moment.
   • That is not the type of special damage contemplated by Boyce and the other cases.
   • They had to work out how long Evans would stick around if he was given a wad of money and they even contemplated a joint venture to spread the risk.
   • That could create uncertainty for non-residents who may be contemplating venture capital investment in New Zealand.
   • Referee Phil Dowd never contemplated the penalty Fulham probably deserved.
   • Alexander stood at the edge of the balcony for a moment, contemplating the quandary, intently observed by Constantine.
   • It would seem to provide for the maximum liability in relation to payment of damages contemplated by the provision.
   • The capital costs of starting a sugar estate were so high by 1860 that only rich capitalists or companies could contemplate such a venture.
   • How many will be able to start a family, or buy a house or go back to university for further study when they contemplate the implications?
   • I pulled the plug from the socket quick as quick and contemplated the damage.
   • He looked at each of the closest planets and their moons, contemplating each one's probability to hold an alien base.
   • On the last day of our stay, we took a break from the past to contemplate the area's ecological future.
   • I think it's all about what people are open to at this point in their journey… I find that when you contemplate this area of life more, it comes to you more and more.
   • So also the theory of probabilities contemplates the numerical measure of the circumstances upon which expectation is founded; and this object embraces the whole range of its legitimate applications.
   • For distraction I forced myself to contemplate my next entrepreneurial venture.