con·tem·plate 
/ˈkɑ:ntəmˌpleɪt/ verb
con·tem·plates; con·tem·plat·ed; con·tem·plat·ing /ˈkɑ:ntəmˌpleɪt/ verb 1 a [+ obj] : to think deeply or carefully about (something)
▪ I stopped to contemplate [=ponder] what might have happened. ▪ He contemplated the meaning of the poem for a long time. ▪ Life without them is too awful to contemplate. [=too awful to even think about]
b [no obj] : to think deeply
▪ I'd like some time to just sit and contemplate. 2 [+ obj] : to think about doing (something) : consider
▪ She's contemplating moving to the city. = She's contemplating a move to the city. ▪ They're contemplating marriage. [=they're thinking about getting married] 3 [+ obj] : to look carefully at (something)
▪ She stood and quietly contemplated the scene that lay before her.
▪ I stopped to contemplate [=ponder] what might have happened. ▪ He contemplated the meaning of the poem for a long time. ▪ Life without them is too awful to contemplate. [=too awful to even think about]
b [no obj] : to think deeply
▪ I'd like some time to just sit and contemplate.
▪ She's contemplating moving to the city. = She's contemplating a move to the city. ▪ They're contemplating marriage. [=they're thinking about getting married]
▪ She stood and quietly contemplated the scene that lay before her.
