ponder

verb

pon·​der ˈpän-dər 

pondered; pondering ˈpän-d(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to weigh in the mind : appraise

pondered their chances of success

2

: to think about : reflect on

pondered the events of the day

intransitive verb

: to think or consider especially quietly, soberly, and deeply

ponderer

ˈpän-dər-ər 

noun

Synonyms

• chew over
• cogitate
• consider
• contemplate
• debate
• deliberate
• entertain
• eye
• kick around
• meditate
• mull (over)
• perpend
• pore (over)
• question
• revolve
• ruminate
• study
• think (about or over)
• turn
• weigh
• wrestle (with)

Choose the Right Synonym for ponder

ponder, meditate, muse, ruminate mean to consider or examine attentively or deliberately.

ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter.

pondered the course of action

meditate implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something so as to understand it deeply.

meditated on the meaning of life

muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance.

mused upon childhood joys

ruminate implies going over the same matter in one's thoughts again and again but suggests little of either purposive thinking or rapt absorption.

ruminated on past disappointments

Examples of ponder in a Sentence

He pondered the question before he answered.

The team pondered their chances of success.

We pondered whether we could afford the trip.

Recent Examples on the Web

TikTok users ponder a post-TikTok world As the justices debated the fate of TikTok, Americans who use the platform for news, entertainment or to make a living were pondering a post-TikTok world. —Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025

There is no Alliance Independent School District, and the Keller school board is only pondering the idea of splitting the district in two, according Fort Worth city council member Charles Lauersdorf and Mayor Mattie Parker. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Jan. 2025

The club have held several talks with Potter and pondered over appointing him after the defeat to Leicester City on December 3. —Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025

Perhaps Kohli will ponder doing right by India and step aside for a younger teammate to take the baton. —Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French ponderer, from Latin ponderare to weigh, ponder, from ponder-, pondus weight — more at pendant

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

ponder

verb

pon·​der ˈpän-dər 

pondered; pondering -d(ə-)riŋ 

: to consider carefully

ponderer

-dər-ər 

noun