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 of contemplation

• 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

On the 900 acres, there is a secluded secret chapel that his majesty uses for private contemplation. —Elle Meier, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026

An episodic framework, physical comedy, a small ensemble of actors who are all at home in their clowns and who will all, at some point, drop the mask to speak to us as themselves — for Ogawa, these are ways to bring effervescence and intimacy to the contemplation of insoluble, heavy things. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026

It was written after his father died from COVID, and as a contemplation of racial disparities in society. —Adam Bell february 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2026

Of course neither an award nor a banning is an accurate barometer of the originality or beauty of a thing, and the marketplace that determines whether a book is read by eager millions or six gentle poets in quiet contemplation is a poor barometer as well. —Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026

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