Definition of contemplationnext
1
as in meditation
long or deep thinking about spiritual matters the decision to enter a monastery and to spend one's life in prayer and contemplation

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2
as in anticipation
the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence in contemplation of their children's college expenses, they started saving early

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of contemplation Tiffany approaches her projects with research and contemplation and then follows through with flawless details. Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026 Eid al-Fitr is a time of renewal after Ramadan's month of spiritual cleansing, self-restraint and contemplation and is a joyous time to spend with friends and family. C. A. Bridges, Oklahoman, 14 Mar. 2026 The paradox that the lush and peaceful surroundings also harbored the violent history of enslavement offered visiting artists further nuance for contemplation. Amy Paige Condon, AJC.com, 12 Mar. 2026 Somewhere in the next hour after the field is announced, there will be contemplation and whining about the specter of the NCAA growing its postseason field, most likely to 76 teams. Mac Engel march 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contemplation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemplation
Noun
  • With a background in Kundalini yoga, breath work, meditation and sound healing, Raccio is a 20-year veteran of the wellness space.
    Rebecca Leib, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The Christophers starts as the tale of a forgery, but ends as an intimate meditation on art.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In anticipation, Kolluri said, NJ Transit had bumped up the maintenance schedules on a slew of its passenger cars and contracted hundreds of buses to be on standby in the event of problems with the rail lines along the Northeast Corridor.
    Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • That said, a small portion of inventory was strategically reserved by both networks in anticipation of a hot scatter market; when freed up, those units are expected to be the most valuable buys on the summer sports calendar.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Contemplation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemplation. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

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