/ ˈkɒntəmpleɪt; NAmE ˈkɑːn-/ verb
1.
to think about whether you should do sth, or how you should do sth
SYN consider , think about / of :
[ vn ]
You're too young to be contemplating retirement.
[ v -ing ]
I have never contemplated living abroad.
[also v wh- , vn -ing ]
2.
to think carefully about and accept the possibility of sth happening :
[ vn ]
The thought of war is too awful to contemplate.
[ v wh- ]
I can't contemplate what it would be like to be alone.
[also v that ]
3.
( formal ) to think deeply about sth for a long time :
[ vn ]
to contemplate your future
[ v ]
She lay in bed, contemplating.
4.
[ vn ] ( formal ) to look at sb/sth in a careful way for a long time
SYN stare at :
She contemplated him in silence.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from Latin contemplat- surveyed, observed, contemplated, from the verb contemplari , based on templum place for observation.