ponder
Turn over mentally
To ponder is to think about something carefully and at length, turning it over in your mind: She pondered whether to accept the job offer.
The word suggests deliberate, unhurried consideration rather than quick judgment.
You ponder weighty matters—decisions, mysteries, life's big questions—not what to have for lunch.
Consider something thoroughly
- museThink deeply about
- ruminateThink deeply and repeatedly
- cogitateTo reflect deeply
- broodHatchlings as a group
speculate · consider · think · reflect · deliberate · meditate · wonder · chew over
Determine mass or ponder
- evaluateDetermine value or quality
- assessJudge worth or quality
- examineStudy with attention
- scrutinizeInspect with close attention
analyze · study · review · reason · judge · question · discern · deduce
Observing one's own mind
- self-reflectionExamining one's own mind
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- self-examinationScrutiny of one's thoughts
- self-questioningProbing one's own thoughts
inner dialogue · self-awareness · self-scrutiny · self-analysis · navel-gazing · look inward · personal reflection · inner journey
Consciously chosen, not accidental
- decideReach a conclusion
- determineEstablish through investigation
- resolveFirmness of purpose
- chooseSelect from alternatives
weigh options · think over · take stock · sleep on it · give thought to · think twice · hem and haw · vacillate
Concerned with fundamental truths
- existentialRelating to existence itself
- metaphysicalBeyond the material realm
- abstractCondensed version of text
- theoreticalBased on hypothesis, untested
profound · deep thought · meaning of life · first principles · weltanschauung · cosmic · transcendent · ontological
Inclined toward deep reflection
- mindfulConsciously attentive
- contemplativeInclined to deep thought
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
- quietudeState of calm stillness
tranquility · presence · awareness · centered · peaceful · quiet contemplation · serene · collected
contemplate
Consider something thoroughly
brood · speculate · consider · think · reflect · deliberate · meditate · wonder · chew over · mull over
weigh
Determine mass or ponder
scrutinize · analyze · study · review · reason · judge · question · discern · deduce · infer
introspection
Observing one's own mind
- self-reflectionExamining one's own mind
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- self-examinationScrutiny of one's thoughts
self-questioning · inner dialogue · self-awareness · self-scrutiny · self-analysis · navel-gazing · look inward · personal reflection · inner journey · self-inquiry
deliberate
Consciously chosen, not accidental
choose · weigh options · think over · take stock · sleep on it · give thought to · think twice · hem and haw · vacillate · waver
philosophical
Concerned with fundamental truths
- existentialRelating to existence itself
- metaphysicalBeyond the material realm
- abstractCondensed version of text
theoretical · profound · deep thought · meaning of life · first principles · weltanschauung · cosmic · transcendent · ontological · epistemological
meditative
Inclined toward deep reflection
- mindfulConsciously attentive
- contemplativeInclined to deep thought
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
quietude · tranquility · presence · awareness · centered · peaceful · quiet contemplation · serene · collected · repose
- mindfulnessmindfulness, meditation, meditate, breathe, breath
- thinkingthinking, reasoning, thought, contemplate, contemplating
- deliberationdeliberation, consideration, contemplate, weighing, deliberate
- mental verbsthink, believe, know, imagine, remember
- chew overchew, ruminate, mull over, contemplate, consider
- Soul-searchingcontemplate, reflect, meditate, muse, ruminate
pondersnap judgment
Rapid evaluation without deliberation
jump to conclusions · shoot from the hip · wing it · rush · rush to judgment
pondering, ponderous, pondered, ponders, preponderance, ponderable, imponderable, preponderant, ponderer