Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

contemplate

/ˈkɑn.təmˌpleɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.41 in modern English

Syllables: con-tem-plate
IPA: /ˈkɑn.təmˌpleɪt/

17

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To look at on all sides or in all its aspects; to view or consider with continued attention; to regard with deliberate care; to meditate on; to study, ponder, or consider.

verb

To consider as a possibility.

Example Sentences

"To love, at least contemplate and admire, / What I see excellent."
"We thus dilate / Our spirits to the size of that they contemplate."
"I contemplated doing the project myself, but it would have taken too long."
"There remain some particulars to complete the information contemplated by those resolutions."
"If a treaty contains any stipulations which contemplate a state of future war."
"In Calcutta, season tickets are issued only for the calendar month, with a different colour for each month, so that this problem does not arise. The merest whisper of an idea to change Bombay to the Calcutta system brought such a howl of protest in the Press, that it was never seriously contemplated."

Etymology

First attested in the 1590s; borrowed from Latin contemplātus, the perfect active participle of contemplor (“to observe, survey, gaze (at), contemplate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). See also template.

Origin

First known use: First attested in the 1590s

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈkɑn.təmˌpleɪt/
British English: /ˈkɒn.təmˌpleɪt/

Inflected Forms

contemplates (present, singular) contemplating (participle, present) contemplated (participle, past) contemplated (past)

Derived Forms

contemplatable contemplatingly contemplatist recontemplate uncontemplated

Phrases

contemplate one's navel

Frequently Paired Words

contemplation contemplative contemplator contemplatory contemplatrix

Synonyms

examine chew over think over meditate ponder excogitate muse reflect mull mull over ruminate speculate

Questions

How do you pronounce contemplate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkɑn.təmˌpleɪt/.
What does contemplate mean?: To look at on all sides or in all its aspects; to view or consider with continued attention; to regard with deliberate care; to meditate on; to study, ponder, or consider.
Where does contemplate come from?: First known use: First attested in the 1590s.

How to pronounce contemplate

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “contemplate”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈkɑn.təmˌpleɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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