contemplation

noun

con·​tem·​pla·​tion ˌkän-təm-ˈplā-shən 

-ˌtem-

1

a

: concentration on spiritual things as a form of private devotion

b

: a state of mystical awareness of God's being

2

: an act of considering with attention : study

made the decision after much contemplation

3

: the act of regarding steadily

was lost in quiet contemplation of the scene

4

: intention, expectation

"A considerable crime is in contemplation."

—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Synonyms

• meditation

Examples of contemplation in a Sentence

contemplation of the meaning of life

He goes to the forest to spend time in contemplation of nature.

She was lost in quiet contemplation of the scene.

Recent Examples on the Web

And when the internet bloomed, people grew alarmed that easy access to information would erode our capacity for concentration and contemplation. —Robert B. Tucker, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025

The song plays as Jack reflects on everything unfolding in his world — a moment of quiet contemplation and inner reckoning. —Peter White, Deadline, 18 June 2025

But this need for stopping and contemplation is not only a contemporary one, as evidenced in those artworks in the galleries, many of which were centuries old and made with the intention of being pondered in the dark corners of churches and chapels. —Elisa Wouk Almino, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025

As a result, the existing structure incentivizes the Metra, Pace and CTA boards to make decisions grounded in maintaining their individual fiefdoms — with no contemplation of their relation to the entire Chicago region. —Joe Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contemplacioun "religious meditation, reflection, consideration," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French contemplaciun, borrowed from Latin contemplātiōn-, contemplātiō "act of looking at something, consideration" (Late Latin, "religious meditation"), from contemplāre, contemplārī "to look at fixedly, observe, notice, ponder" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at contemplate

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing contemplation

• in contemplation
• self-contemplation

Rhymes for contemplation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

contemplation

noun

con·​tem·​pla·​tion ˌkänt-əm-ˈplā-shən 

ˌkän-ˌtem-

1

: the act of thinking about spiritual things : meditation

2

: the act of looking at or thinking about something steadily

3

: a looking ahead to some future event : anticipation