What does contemplate mean?
Word: Contemplate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Contemplate means to think about something carefully and for a long time, or to consider doing it.
Synonyms: consider, reflect on
Word origin: From Latin contemplari.
How do you spell contemplate?
Syllables: con - tem - plate
Tricky part: An n comes before the t even though an m follows soon after, so students write comtemplate.
Watch out for: comtemplate, contempelate, conntemplate
Memory tip: Before you contemplate a book, open its contents page: both words start with the same three letters.
Contemplate in a sentence
Example 1: Before choosing her subjects, Sana took a week to contemplate what she enjoyed most.
Example 2: We sat on the hostel terrace and contemplated the night sky without saying a word.
Example 3: My uncle is contemplating a cycling trip from Manali to Leh next year.
Fun Fact
Auguste Rodin's bronze statue The Thinker, a seated man with his chin on his hand, is often used as the picture of someone contemplating life.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
contempl___
a) eat
b) ate
c) ait
d) eit
Show answer
b) ate. Many verbs end this way, as meditate and hesitate show.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with a word of similar meaning:
1. contemplate 2. hasten 3. commence a. begin b. ponder c. hurry
a) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
b) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
c) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
d) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
Show answer
d) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a. To contemplate is to ponder, to hasten is to hurry, and to commence is to begin.
Spell Probe
One word in the sentence is misspelt. Choose the meaning of that word:
Standing by the tranquil lake, Anu began to contamplate the promise she had made on her birthday.
a) a statement that you will certainly do something
b) a large area of water with land around it
c) to turn an idea over slowly in your mind
d) calm and free from any noise
Show answer
c) to turn an idea over slowly in your mind. The misspelt word has the wrong vowel in its middle syllable; it is the thinking word.
Sound Check
Which word does not rhyme with contemplate?
a) private
b) straight
c) freight
d) eight
Show answer
a) private. Private closes on a soft, quick sound, even though its spelling looks like a match.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which place would best suit someone who wants to sit and contemplate?
a) a noisy school canteen
b) a quiet bench in a garden
c) a busy vegetable market
d) a crowded railway platform
Show answer
b) a quiet bench in a garden
2. A student is contemplating a career in medicine. What is she doing?
a) telling others not to choose it
b) weighing it up as a possible choice
c) already working as a young doctor
d) writing a report on city hospitals
Show answer
b) weighing it up as a possible choice
