Dictionary

contemplation en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌkɒntəmˈpleɪʃən/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌkɑntəmˈpleɪʃən/ (General-American)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English contemplacioun, from Old French contemplation, from Latin contemplatio. By surface analysis, contemplate + -ion.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The act of contemplating; being highly concentrated in thought; musing.
   • Now, 80 percent is accessible — quickly filling with exhibition spaces, stylish restaurants and cafes, bookstores, and highly profitable gift stores, as well as quiet walkways, shady stands of trees and odd nooks that invite contemplation of bygone dynasties. 2019 August 3, Ian Johnson, “The Forbidden City Opens Wide as China Projects New Pride in Its Past”, in New York Times:
   • Mr. Pickwick congratulated the fortunate owner of the irresistible garments on their acquisition; and Mr. Peter Magnus remained a few moments apparently absorbed in contemplation. 1836 March – 1837 October, Charles Dickens, chapter 22, in The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1837, →OCLC:
   • Near-synonyms: meditation, cogitation; see also Thesaurus:attention, Thesaurus:consideration
2. (countable, uncountable) Holy meditation.
   • Whilst he roamed about with his flocks, through ice and snow, communion with his God in prayer, and quiet contemplation, were his portion. 1851, The Annual Monitor for 1851: A Sketch of the Life and Labours of Patrick, The Apostle of the Irish:
   • Near-synonyms: devotions, prayer
3. (countable, uncountable) The act of looking forward to a future event.
   • Near-synonym: anticipation
4. (countable, uncountable) The state of being considered or planned.
   • Near-synonyms: consideration, planning, proposal
   • He concludes: "This letter is written in contemplation of legal proceedings, and is a pre-action protocol letter within the meaning of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998." 2020 December 2, Barry Doe, “National Rail Timetable changes and reductions”, in Rail, page 73:
   • contemplation of port facility expansion

Forms

Antonyms

reflexiveness · autopilot · mindlessness · roteness

Deriveds

contemplationist · recontemplation · contemplationism

Relateds

contemplate · contemplational · precontemplation · contemplative

Synonyms

meditation · proposal · musing · reconsideration · reflection · thought · meditation · advertency · consideration · advertence · reflection · notice · consideration · mind · observance · note · rethinking · planning · prayer · attention · cogitation · regard · rumination · deliberation · mark · heedfulness · anticipation · pondering · observation · devotion · cogitation · heed · mulling · contemplation

Translations (68)

fr contemplation (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · fi tutkiskelu (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · mk созерцание (Holy meditation) · sv andakt (Holy meditation) · vi chiêm niệm (The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing) · bg размишление (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · nl overweging (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · bg очакване (The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing) · el θεωρία (Holy meditation) · ru размышле́ние (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · vi chiêm niệm (Holy meditation) · nl bespiegeling (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · pl bogomyślność (Holy meditation) · tr düşünme (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · hi तप (Holy meditation) · tr meditasyon (Holy meditation) · nl contemplatie (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · pt contemplação (The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing) · sv meditation (Holy meditation) · el ενατένιση (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · es contemplación (Holy meditation) · de Meditation (Holy meditation) · hi ध्यान (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · hi ध्यान (Holy meditation) · vi thiền định (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · fi mietiskely (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · ru медита́ция (Holy meditation) · vi thiền định (The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing) · es contemplación (The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing) · de Betrachtung (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · fi suunnittelu (The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing) · el πρόβλεψη (The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing) · mi whakaaroarohanga (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · cs rozjímání (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · hi चिंतन (The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing) · ru благочести́вые размышле́ния (Holy meditation) · el περισυλλογή (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · sv begrundande (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · tr tefekkür etme (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · cs meditace (Holy meditation) · sv betraktande (The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing) · de Erwarten (The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing) · vi thiền định (Holy meditation) · pl kontemplacja (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · hi मनन (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · ru разду́мье (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · gl contemplación (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · vi chiêm niệm (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · hi तपस्या (Holy meditation) · hi चिंतन (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · el περισυλλογή (Holy meditation) · ar تَفَكُّر (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · ca contemplació (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · ru предвкуше́ние (The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing) · fi uskonnollinen mietiskely (Holy meditation) · pl medytacja (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · es contemplación (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · bg съзерцание (Holy meditation) · pt contemplação (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · hi साधना (Holy meditation) · hi मनन (The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing) · ru созерца́ние (Holy meditation) · el πρόθεση (The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing) · sh sozercanje (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · el στοχασμός (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · tr bekleme (The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing) · el διαλογισμός (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study) · nl beschouwing (The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study)