contemplation
Americannoun
-
the act of contemplating; thoughtful observation.
-
full or deep consideration; reflection.
religious contemplation.
-
purpose or intention.
-
prospect or expectation.
noun
-
thoughtful or long consideration or observation
-
spiritual meditation esp (in Christian religious practice) concentration of the mind and soul upon God Compare meditation
-
purpose or intention
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of contemplation
First recorded in 1175–1225; from Latin contemplātiōn-, stem of contemplātiō; equivalent to contemplate + -ion; replacing Middle English contemplaci(o)un, from Anglo-French, from Latin, as above
Explanation
Contemplation is long, hard thinking about something. If you’re writing a book on the meaning of the universe, then you’re going to need to do a great deal of contemplation. Contemplate has the word temple in its roots, and originally referred to the kind of thinking you do in a special space set aside for observation. Now we use it to describe any kind of thinking that we spend a long time doing. While clicking on someone’s photos on Facebook doesn’t count as contemplation, usually, you might spend hours in contemplation of your family and your history if you come across a box of old photos in the attic.
Vocabulary lists containing contemplation
Tuck Everlasting
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Long Way Gone
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Siddhartha
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Tickets must be purchased online for specific time slots, the number of simultaneous visitors is capped at 1,500 and a daily morning “quiet hour” was recently introduced to facilitate prayer and contemplation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
The spaces are intended as places of contemplation and rejuvenation for the athletes.
From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026
It takes an exceptional piece of art to inspire audiences to think twice about what comes as second nature, to choose compassionate contemplation over ardent debate.
From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026
In the city's Maidan square, where a growing host of flags has commemorated the dead since the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion, banners and heads were lowered as people stood in silent contemplation.
From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026
Certainly, they distracted from spiritual contemplation, but in the same way that the sight of a shooting star distracts from the ache of an empty belly.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
