contemplate
gb/kˈɑntəmplˌeɪt/ us/kˈɑntəmplˌeɪt/
B2
Englisch
~ 7600
Bedeutungen
0 Bedeutungen
Verb
formal
B2
action
1
think about something very deeply
To think about something very carefully and for a long time, especially when it is important.
Verwendungsmuster:
to contemplate [something]/[doing something]
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes add a preposition and say *contemplate about* or *contemplate on*. In standard modern English, *contemplate* is usually followed directly by a noun or a verb in -ing form: *contemplate the problem*, *contemplate changing jobs*, not *contemplate about the problem*.
Synonyme
consider (More general and neutral; not always as deep or prolonged as contemplate.)
|
ponder (Suggests slow, careful thinking; often similar formality to contemplate but a bit more common in everyday speech.)
|
reflect on (Emphasizes thoughtful review, often of past events or experiences.)
Antonyme
ignore (To pay no attention instead of thinking deeply.)
|
dismiss (To decide something is not worth thinking about, the opposite of giving it serious thought.)
Wortverbindungen
contemplate the meaning
|contemplate the future
|contemplate the consequences
|contemplate a decision
|quietly contemplate
|seriously contemplate
Themen
thinking
|emotions
|philosophy
|work
|core_vocabulary
Beispiele
- She spent the evening quietly contemplating the choices she had made in her life.
- Before responding, he contemplated the question in silence for several minutes.
- The committee is still contemplating the ethical issues raised by the new technology.
- He often contemplates the meaning of success and what it truly means to him.
- Many people contemplate their own values after experiencing a major crisis.
Beispiele für Lernende
- He sat alone and contemplated his future.
- I need some time to contemplate this offer.
- She contemplated moving to another country for work.
- We must contemplate the risks before we start the project.
- They contemplated what the problem might mean for their family.
Verb
formal
C1
action
2
consider doing something in future
To think seriously about doing something in the future.
Verwendungsmuster:
to contemplate [something]/[doing something] in the future
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with a firm decision and use it like *decide*. *Contemplate* means you are thinking seriously about an action, but you have not fully decided yet. Also, avoid *contemplate to do*; use *contemplate doing*: *He contemplates leaving*, not *He contemplates to leave*.
Synonyme
consider (The most common everyday choice for this sense; less formal than contemplate.)
|
intend (Stronger than contemplate; suggests a plan that is more decided, not just being thought about.)
|
mull over (Informal; similar idea of thinking about a possible action, but more casual in tone.)
Antonyme
reject (To decide not to do something, the opposite of seriously considering it.)
|
rule out (To say that a possible action will definitely not happen.)
Wortverbindungen
contemplate a move
|contemplate a career change
|contemplate divorce
|contemplate retirement
|contemplate legal action
|contemplate a change
Themen
planning
|work
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Beispiele
- She is contemplating a move to Canada for better job opportunities.
- The company is contemplating closing several branches next year.
- After the argument, he even contemplated quitting his job.
- They are contemplating taking legal action against the landlord.
- We are contemplating expanding our services to international clients.
Beispiele für Lernende
- I am contemplating changing my job.
- They are contemplating moving to a bigger house.
- The manager is contemplating starting a new project.
- She contemplated taking a year off to travel.
- The team contemplated asking for more time.
Verb
formal
C1
action
3
look at something thoughtfully
To look at something for a long time in a quiet and thoughtful way.
Verwendungsmuster:
to contemplate [something]
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners often know only the 'think deeply' meaning and may be confused when *contemplate* is used with an object you look at, like *contemplate the view*. In this sense, it means to look at something in a calm, thoughtful way, not just to think about it without looking.
Synonyme
gaze at (Focuses on looking steadily; may or may not include the deep thought implied by contemplate.)
|
study (Emphasizes careful, detailed looking, often for learning or analysis.)
|
regard (Formal; to look at attentively; can be similar in literary style to contemplate.)
Antonyme
glance at (To look very quickly, the opposite of the slow, prolonged looking in contemplate.)
|
ignore (To deliberately not look at or pay attention to something.)
Wortverbindungen
contemplate the view
|contemplate the painting
|contemplate his face
|contemplate the landscape
|contemplate the sky
|sit and contemplate
Themen
perception
|art
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Beispiele
- He stood on the balcony, silently contemplating the city lights below.
- We sat on the hill and contemplated the mountains in the distance.
- She contemplated the painting for several minutes before saying a word.
- At sunrise, they contemplated the sea as the sky slowly turned pink.
- He paused to contemplate his reflection in the shop window.
Beispiele für Lernende
- She sat by the window and contemplated the rain.
- We walked to the lake to contemplate the water and trees.
- He stopped to contemplate the old building.
- They contemplated the stars in the night sky.
- I like to contemplate the city from this bridge.
Grammatik
Grundform
contemplate
IPA
GB/kˈɑntəmplˌeɪt/
US/kˈɑntəmplˌeɪt/
Silben & Betonung
con - tem - plate (3 Silben)
Stress on 1st syllable (con)
Wortformen
Verb
- Base: contemplate
- 3rd Person Singular: contemplates
- Present Participle: contemplating
- Past: contemplated
Wortfamilie
Forms
contemplates
verb
contemplating
verb
contemplated
verb
Core family
contemplation
noun C1
contemplative
adjective
Related words
contemplatively
adverb
Advanced or less common
contemplator
noun
Ausdrücke
contemplate one's navel
1/kˈɑntəmplˌeɪt wˈʌnz nˈeɪvəl/
idiom
informal
think about yourself too much
To spend too much time thinking only about yourself and your own ideas, instead of the real world or other people.
Beispiele
- The meeting turned into an hour of everyone just contemplating their navels instead of solving the problem.
- Teenagers are often accused of contemplating their navels rather than paying attention to the world around them.