contemplate
- To think deeply and at length about something, or to consider a possible course of action.
- To look thoughtfully at something for a long time.
In a sentence
- He sat by the window for an hour, contemplating whether to accept the job offer abroad.
- The philosopher urged her students to contemplate the nature of justice before debating it.
Usage note. 'Contemplate' suggests sustained, serious thought and is more formal than 'think about'; it collocates naturally with abstract nouns like 'possibility', 'future', or 'meaning'.
Where it comes from
English contemplate · entered English late 16th c.
From Latin 'contemplari' (to observe, survey, or meditate on), derived from 'templum' (a space marked out for observation, a temple); the prefix 'con-' adds emphasis. It entered English in the late 16th century.