From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcontemplatecon‧tem‧plate /ˈkɒntəmpleɪt $ ˈkɑːn-/ ●○○ verb 1 [transitive]THINK ABOUT to think about something that you might do in the future SYN consider He had even contemplated suicide.contemplate doing something Did you ever contemplate resigning?► see thesaurus at think2 [transitive]THINK ABOUT to accept the possibility that something is truetoo dreadful/horrifying etc to contemplate The thought that she might be dead was too terrible to contemplate.3 [intransitive, transitive]THINK ABOUT to think about something seriously for a period of time SYN consider Jack went on vacation to contemplate his future.contemplate what/whether/how etc She sat down and contemplated what she had done.contemplate your navel (=think so much about your own life that you do not notice other important things – used humorously)4 [transitive] to look at someone or something for a period of time in a way that shows you are thinking He contemplated her with a faint smile.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
contemplate• A spokeswoman denied that job losses were being contemplated.• Though family planning services are theoretically available to them, they are not even contemplated at such an early age.• The government was contemplating fining anyone who was found within the island's danger zone.• Meanwhile the audience contemplates his grand opus, wondering what comes next.• Run, I think now as I sit in the dark contemplating Marcy Lupino.• Isn't 17 a little young to be contemplating marriage?• The dealer contemplated suing the recruitment agency until he found a better job.• It starts when organizational leaders, planners, and consultants are contemplating the alternatives available to them at a strategic moment.• Secondly, we shall need to contemplate the various options available for disposing of the company's properties.• Five years back he would not have even contemplated the Wiring Project.• The rollercoaster stops briefly during each of the loops so that riders can contemplate their own mortality.• Many years ago he had contemplated writing a book about his childhood.contemplate doing something• Have you ever contemplated committing suicide?too dreadful/horrifying etc to contemplate• The latent thought is the notion that Gloucester may be plotting to murder him - an idea too horrifying to contemplate.• The results of that are too horrifying to contemplate.contemplate what/whether/how etc• He didn't want to contemplate what he smelt like.• A near miracle to those of us who have been contemplating what seemed an eternal building site.• She sat down and sipped the wine and contemplated what she had done.• Soon, however, California teens may no longer be contemplating whether to pierce or not to pierce.Origin contemplate (1500-1600) Latin past participle of contemplari, from com- ( → COM-) + templum ( → TEMPLE) 