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ponder

American  
[pon-der] / ˈpɒn dər /

verb (used without object)

  1. to consider something deeply and thoroughly; meditate (often followed by over orupon ).

    Synonyms:
    ruminate, deliberate, cogitate, reflect

verb (used with object)

  1. to weigh carefully in the mind; consider thoughtfully.

    He pondered his next words thoroughly.
ponder British  
/ ˈpɒndə /

verb

  1. to give thorough or deep consideration (to); meditate (upon)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • ponderer noun
  • reponder verb (used without object)
  • unpondered adjective
  • well-pondered adjective

Etymology

Origin of ponder

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pondren, from Middle French ponderer, from Latin ponderāre “to weigh, reflect on,” derivative of pondus “weight”; akin to pendēre “to be suspended, hang” ( pend )

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.