contemplation

noun

con·tem·pla·tion | \ ˌkän-təm-ˈplā-shən

, -ˌtem-\

Definition of contemplation

1a : 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

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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

Dworkin insists—for a work of scholarly contemplation: This book is an action, a political action where revolution is the goal. — Elaine Blair, The New York Review of Books, "Fighting for Her Life," 17 June 2019 If not big-A art in the academic sense, objects that deserve similar respect and contemplation. — Dan Neil, WSJ, "How Horacio Pagani Designs Multimillion-Dollar Hypercars by Hand," 23 Aug. 2018 That all of our considered noticing and contemplation may have simply led us to a pained awareness that the particularity of our gaze and insight doesn’t count for much against a rigged system, much less a disaffected young man carrying an AR-15. — Megan O’grady, New York Times, "Read Any Antisocial Novels Lately?," 10 May 2018 There’s a reason Buddhist monks meditate on charnel grounds, and why Cicero said the contemplation of death was the beginning of philosophy. — Parul Sehgal, New York Times, "What the Living Can Learn by Looking Death Straight in the Eye," 26 June 2018 While the rest of us focus on caffeine and contemplation for this bright and early Monday morning, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have jumped straight into royal duty, arriving at Canada House in London for their latest appearance. — Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, "Meghan Markle Wore a Very Kate Middleton-esque, Green Embellished Erdem Coat," 11 Mar. 2019 Human beings, however, add an element of thought and contemplation to most situations. — John Smallwood, Philly.com, "What can be done to prevent child abuse in sports? Experts weigh in," 21 May 2018 On the day of my visit, the venue is bustling with empty-stomached patrons, some clad in suits, others in hoodies, surveying the scene in deep contemplation. — Bethany Biron, Vox, "The food court’s younger, hipper cousin is a curated version of the mall staple.," 30 Oct. 2018 Inaction, the life of contemplation, may be equally necessary for transforming the rotten present. — WSJ, "Who Read What in 2018: Fiction and Literature," 10 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'contemplation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.