as in to contemplate
to give serious and careful thought to
I'm pondering whether or not I should join another committee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 ponder
The 24-year-old Foerster, who had a career-best 25 goals last season, missed the last 49 games but had recovered well enough to the point where the Flyers started to ponder a late-season return.
—
CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Ganesh’s character has also spent a good amount of time this season pondering the next steps in her medical career after her plans to move back to her home state of New Jersey were disrupted.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026
While Heinrich ponders the misfiring neurons in the brain of a mass shooter, Jack’s pursuit of Mink—a character whose skin color and ambiguous ethnicity Jack remarks on repeatedly—leads him directly into the urban teeth of the War on Drugs.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Manager Dave Roberts is pondering whether to take measures to limit opportunities for the sequence, as the Dodgers manage Ohtani’s two-way ability over the course of a full season for the first time.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ponder
CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Ganesh’s character has also spent a good amount of time this season pondering the next steps in her medical career after her plans to move back to her home state of New Jersey were disrupted.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026
While Heinrich ponders the misfiring neurons in the brain of a mass shooter, Jack’s pursuit of Mink—a character whose skin color and ambiguous ethnicity Jack remarks on repeatedly—leads him directly into the urban teeth of the War on Drugs.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Manager Dave Roberts is pondering whether to take measures to limit opportunities for the sequence, as the Dodgers manage Ohtani’s two-way ability over the course of a full season for the first time.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ponder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ponder
Verb
-
That doesn't mean women never contemplate committing violence (and again, Emma never went through with her plan).—
Mike Miller,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Apr. 2026
-
After staring down 30, experiencing a career lull, and contemplating quitting music altogether, the singer staked her future in the industry on the fate of her fourth record.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Overland Park is considering building new community pools as part of its widespread parks and recreation master plan.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Families should consider making a nutritious snack available an hour or so before sports practices so children with that earlier lunch time have energy available to fuel activities.—
Dr. Sarah Kinsella,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The kids' menu is tempting for adults and youngsters alike, and if in doubt, a ride in the golf carts that come with each villa will be more than enough to keep everyone entertained.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The notion of relying on Kurdish forces as a national alternative was briefly entertained, then abandoned.—
Kazem Kazerounian,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Pop culture depictions of school shootings have often stoked controversy, with many viewers debating the line between storytelling and sensitivity.—
Saba Hamedy,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
-
As lawmakers debate, business owners like him remain worried about getting served with lawsuit papers.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Turnover is very common in large, urban districts, where superintendent transitions are often fraught, according to Jason Grissom, a Vanderbilt University professor who studies school district leadership.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The science payload to be landed there includes seismometers, a drill to allow emplacement of heat flow and electrical conductivity probes, and instruments to study the magnetic field and surface weathering.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Still, some critics have questioned the role of law enforcement on school campuses, particularly in secondary schools, raising concerns that such programs can feel more like surveillance than support.—
Mona Darwish,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The hidden cost of going back to school Students are increasingly questioning the value proposition of higher education.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ponder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponder. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
