contemplate

verb

/ˈkɒntəmpleɪt/

/ˈkɑːntəmpleɪt/

(rather formal)

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they contemplate	/ˈkɒntəmpleɪt/ /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪt/
he / she / it contemplates	/ˈkɒntəmpleɪts/ /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪts/
past simple contemplated	/ˈkɒntəmpleɪtɪd/ /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪd/
past participle contemplated	/ˈkɒntəmpleɪtɪd/ /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪd/
-ing form contemplating	/ˈkɒntəmpleɪtɪŋ/ /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪŋ/

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[transitive] to think about whether you should do something, or how you should do something考虑；思量；思忖 synonym consider, think about/of
- contemplate something You're too young to be contemplating retirement.你考虑退休还太年轻。
- contemplate doing something I have never contemplated living abroad.我从未考虑过去国外居住。
- contemplate how/what, etc… He continued while she contemplated how to answer.她还在考虑如何回答时，他就继续往下说了。
Extra Examples
- Are you willing to contemplate retraining?你愿意仔细考虑再培训的事吗？
- He was very depressed and even contemplated suicide.他非常沮丧，甚至想过自杀。
- She contemplated a change of direction in her life她考虑改变自己的生活方向
- She was seriously contemplating moving to Mexico.她正认真考虑搬到墨西哥去。
- She was seriously contemplating working abroad.她正认真考虑去国外工作的事。
- We're contemplating the possibility of moving house.我们正在考虑搬家的可能性。
- He's only 55, but he's already contemplating retirement.他只有55岁，但已经开始考虑退休。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- seriously
- even
verb + contemplate
- be prepared to
- be willing to
- cannot
- …
phrases
- too awful to contemplate
- too horrible to contemplate
See full entry
[transitive] to think carefully about and accept the possibility of something happening考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）
- contemplate something The thought of war is too awful to contemplate.战争太可怕了，真不敢去想。
- How could you even contemplate such an idea?你居然想得出这么一个主意？
- contemplate how/what, etc… I can't contemplate what it would be like to be alone.我不能想象独自一人会是个什么样子。
- contemplate that… She contemplated that things might get even worse.她想到事情可能会变得更糟。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- seriously
- even
verb + contemplate
- be prepared to
- be willing to
- cannot
- …
phrases
- too awful to contemplate
- too horrible to contemplate
See full entry
[transitive, intransitive] contemplate (something) (formal) to think deeply about something for a long time深思熟虑；沉思；苦思冥想
- to contemplate your future仔细盘算未来
- She lay in bed, contemplating.她躺在床上冥思苦想。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- seriously
- even
verb + contemplate
- be prepared to
- be willing to
- cannot
- …
phrases
- too awful to contemplate
- too horrible to contemplate
See full entry
[transitive] contemplate somebody/something (formal) to look at somebody/something in a careful way for a long time端详；审视 synonym stare at
- She contemplated him in silence.她默默地注视着他。
- He sat there, contemplating his fingernails.他坐在那里，端详着自己的手指甲。

Word Originlate 16th cent.: from Latin contemplat- ‘surveyed, observed, contemplated’, from the verb contemplari, based on templum ‘place for observation’.