contemplate
gb/kˈɑntəmplˌeɪt/ us/kˈɑntəmplˌeɪt/
B2
Inglês
~ 7600
Aceções
0 aceções
Verbo
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.
Padrão de uso:
to contemplate [something]/[doing something]
Erro comum:
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*.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
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.)
Colocações
contemplate the meaning
|contemplate the future
|contemplate the consequences
|contemplate a decision
|quietly contemplate
|seriously contemplate
Temas
thinking
|emotions
|philosophy
|work
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- 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.
Verbo
formal
C1
action
2
consider doing something in future
To think seriously about doing something in the future.
Padrão de uso:
to contemplate [something]/[doing something] in the future
Erro comum:
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*.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
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.)
Colocações
contemplate a move
|contemplate a career change
|contemplate divorce
|contemplate retirement
|contemplate legal action
|contemplate a change
Temas
planning
|work
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- 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.
Verbo
formal
C1
action
3
look at something thoughtfully
To look at something for a long time in a quiet and thoughtful way.
Padrão de uso:
to contemplate [something]
Erro comum:
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.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
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.)
Colocações
contemplate the view
|contemplate the painting
|contemplate his face
|contemplate the landscape
|contemplate the sky
|sit and contemplate
Temas
perception
|art
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- 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.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
contemplate
IPA
GB/kˈɑntəmplˌeɪt/
US/kˈɑntəmplˌeɪt/
Sílabas e acento
con - tem - plate (3 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (con)
Formas da palavra
Verb
- Base: contemplate
- 3rd Person Singular: contemplates
- Present Participle: contemplating
- Past: contemplated
Família de palavras
Forms
contemplates
verb
contemplating
verb
contemplated
verb
Core family
contemplation
noun C1
contemplative
adjective
Related words
contemplatively
adverb
Advanced or less common
contemplator
noun
Expressões
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.
Exemplos
- 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.