contemplating
Mulling something over
Contemplating is considering something carefully and at length.
You might be contemplating a career change, contemplating the meaning of life, or contemplating whether to say yes.
The word suggests sustained, serious thought rather than quick decision-making.
To contemplate something can also mean simply to gaze at it thoughtfully: She sat contemplating the mountains.
Measuring mass or heft
- consideringMentally evaluating something
- mullingDeep, slow consideration
- ponderingThinking deeply about something
- evaluatingJudging quality or worth
assessing · deliberating · judging · deciding · analyzing · reasoning · calculating · appraising
Awareness of the present
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
- serenityUndisturbed mental quietude
- tranquilityUndisturbed peacefulness
- peaceFreedom from disturbance
silence · zen · breathing · presence · centered · calm · mantra · samadhi
Examining one's own mind
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- self-examinationScrutiny of one's thoughts
- self-discoveryLearning one's true character
- self-awarenessInsight into one's psyche
self-questioning · self-inquiry · self-analysis · self-scrutiny · self-perception · self-observation · self-study · innermost
Reflective contemplation
- reflectingBouncing back light
- theorizingForming unproven explanations
- speculatingGuessing without certainty
- philosophizingEngaging in abstract reasoning
wondering · questioning · existential · meaning · purpose · abstract · metaphysical · wisdom
weighing
Measuring mass or heft
- consideringMentally evaluating something
- mullingDeep, slow consideration
- ponderingThinking deeply about something
evaluating · assessing · deliberating · judging · deciding · analyzing · reasoning · calculating · appraising · examining
mindfulness
Awareness of the present
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
- serenityUndisturbed mental quietude
- tranquilityUndisturbed peacefulness
peace · silence · zen · breathing · presence · centered · calm · mantra · samadhi · zazen
self-reflection
Examining one's own mind
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- self-examinationScrutiny of one's thoughts
- self-discoveryLearning one's true character
self-awareness · self-questioning · self-inquiry · self-analysis · self-scrutiny · self-perception · self-observation · self-study · innermost · journaling
musing
Reflective contemplation
- reflectingBouncing back light
- theorizingForming unproven explanations
- speculatingGuessing without certainty
philosophizing · wondering · questioning · existential · meaning · purpose · abstract · metaphysical · wisdom · truth
- inner thoughtsinner monologue, inner voice, self-talk, internal dialogue, thoughts
- thinkingthinking, reasoning, thought, ponder, pondering
- cognitionthinking, reasoning, thought, cognition, remembering
- mental processesthinking, think, reasoning, cognition, pondering
- idle actionsfidgeting, waiting, twiddling thumbs, daydreaming, lounging
- digestionstomach acid, swallowing, digesting, chewing, digestion
contemplatingignoring
Deliberately not noticing
disregarding · neglecting · overlooking · dismissing · discarding
contemplatingrushing
Rapid forward movement
jumping to conclusions · leaping · reacting · shooting from the hip · winging it
contemplatingspacing out
Losing focus temporarily
zoning out · mindlessness · inattention · glossing over · daydreaming
- silent contemplation
- quiet contemplation
- contemplative lifeLife of prayer and reflection
- contemplative prayerSilent, receptive spiritual practice
- religious contemplationMeditative focus on the divine
- contemplative retreatSecluded place for reflection
contemplation, contemplative, contemplatively, contemplations, contemplatives, contemplativeness