pon ‧ der /ˈpɒndə $ ˈpɑːndər/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: ponderer 'to weigh' , from Latin ponderare , from pondus 'weight' ]
formal to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about a problem, a difficult question, or something that has happened SYN consider :
He continued to ponder the problem as he walked home.
ponder on/over/about
The university board is still pondering over the matter.
ponder how/what/whether
Jay stood still for a moment, pondering whether to go or not.
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THESAURUS
■ to think about something
▪ think to use your mind to decide about something, form an opinion, imagine something etc:
I’ve been thinking about what you said – maybe you’re right.
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I need some time to think.
▪ consider to think about something carefully before deciding what to do:
Have you considered working for a year before going to college?
▪ weigh ( also weigh up British English ) to carefully think about a plan or choice by comparing all the advantages and disadvantages involved:
You need to weigh up the pros and cons (=the advantages and disadvantages) , and decide which investment is the best one for you.
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The committee are still weighing the alternatives.
▪ give something some/a lot of thought to think carefully about something, before you make a final decision about it:
Why don’t you give it some thought and then get back to me?
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He had obviously given the matter a lot of thought.
▪ mull something over to think about a problem, plan etc before making a decision:
Can you give me a bit of time to mull it over?
▪ ponder to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about something, especially a problem or something complicated:
She is still pondering what to do.
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Officials are pondering ways to remove the oil from the beaches.
▪ contemplate to think about something you might do in the future:
Did you ever contemplate resigning?
▪ reflect formal to think carefully about something, especially something that happened in the past:
It was a good time to reflect upon the changes that had happened in my life.