contemplate

Word family

con·tem·plate /ˈkɒntəmpleɪt $ ˈkɑːn-/ verb

1 [transitiveT]THINK ABOUT to think about something that you might do in the future 打算，想，考虑 SYN consider

He had even contemplated suicide.

他甚至想过自杀。

contemplate doing something

Did you ever contemplate resigning?

你有没有考虑过辞职？

► see thesaurus at think

2 [transitiveT]THINK ABOUT to accept the possibility that something is true 考虑接受；视…为可能

too dreadful/horrifying etc to contemplate

The thought that she might be dead was too terrible to contemplate.

她可能已经死了的想法真是太可怕了，让人都不敢想下去。

3 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]THINK ABOUT to think about something seriously for a period of time 深思；细想 SYN consider

Jack went on vacation to contemplate his future.

杰克去度假，仔细思考一下他的未来。

contemplate what/whether/how etc

She sat down and contemplated what she had done.

她坐下来细想自己所做的事。

contemplate your navel (=think so much about your own life that you do not notice other important things – used humorously) 苦思冥想；一心反思〔以至于忽略了其他重要的事情，幽默用法〕

4 [transitiveT] to look at someone or something for a period of time in a way that shows you are thinking 凝视，注视

He contemplated her with a faint smile.

他微微含笑注视着她。

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)

con·tem·plate verb

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus