ponder

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++pon·der /ˈpɒndə $ ˈpɑːndər/ verb [intransitive, transitive] formalTHINK ABOUT to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about a problem, a difficult question, or something that has happened 仔细考虑，深思 SYN consider He continued to ponder the problem as he walked home. 他一边往家走一边继续思考那个问题。ponder on/over/about The university board is still pondering over the matter. 大学董事会仍在考虑那个问题。ponder how/what/whether Jay stood still for a moment, pondering whether to go or not. 杰伊静静地站了一会儿，琢磨着要不要去。► see thesaurus at think→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

ponder• I pondered pouring the cappuccinos on the floor and sweeping out but figured he might just shoot me in the foot.• The purpose, I think, is to ponder questions important to human experience.• Webber has been pondering retirement since June.• Strange, Mowbray pondered, that Adam had not come to see them this Christmas.• We would do well to ponder the anguish of those turbulent years.• I was pondering this alternative when my mind was made up for me by a passing freighter.• She was pondering this in a panic, when she heard the scream of the children and the sound of feet running.• His mind always at work, Alvin pondered ways to make such programs more appealing to unsophisticated audiences.ponder how/what/whether• But while all the praise has been coming his way, he still ponders whether he'd do it again.• Quinn paused for a moment to ponder what he was doing.• I kept pondering how kinglets, no larger than the end of my finger, could survive in this cold.• It is interesting to ponder how the values of planners are formulated with respect to determining aesthetic criteria for decision-making.• But before jumping to that conclusion it is worth pondering whether the weed is more resistant to husbandry practice rather than the herbicide.• While workers worried about their jobs, customers pondered whether they would remain with the bank.• Authorities ponder whether to charge the driver.• His present-day detractors might well ponder what would have happened to the country had he died.Origin ponder (1300-1400) Old French ponderer “to weigh”, from Latin ponderare, from pondus “weight”

pon·der verbChineseSyllable

seriously time carefully to and Corpus thinking spend

ponder
pon‧der /ˈpɒndə $ ˈpɑːndər/

verb [intransitive and transitive]

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: ponderer 'to weigh', from Latin ponderare, from pondus 'weight'

formal to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about a problem, a difficult question, or something that has happened
SYN consider:

He continued to ponder the problem as he walked home.
ponder on/over/about

The university board is still pondering over the matter.
ponder how/what/whether

Jay stood still for a moment, pondering whether to go or not.

THESAURUS

■ to think about something
   ▪ think to use your mind to decide about something, form an opinion, imagine something etc: I’ve been thinking about what you said – maybe you’re right. | I need some time to think.
   ▪ consider to think about something carefully before deciding what to do: Have you considered working for a year before going to college?
   ▪ weigh (also weigh up British English) to carefully think about a plan or choice by comparing all the advantages and disadvantages involved: You need to weigh up the pros and cons (=the advantages and disadvantages), and decide which investment is the best one for you. | The committee are still weighing the alternatives.
   ▪ give something some/a lot of thought to think carefully about something, before you make a final decision about it: Why don’t you give it some thought and then get back to me? | He had obviously given the matter a lot of thought.
   ▪ mull something over to think about a problem, plan etc before making a decision: Can you give me a bit of time to mull it over?
   ▪ ponder to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about something, especially a problem or something complicated: She is still pondering what to do. | Officials are pondering ways to remove the oil from the beaches.
   ▪ contemplate to think about something you might do in the future: Did you ever contemplate resigning?
   ▪ reflect formal to think carefully about something, especially something that happened in the past: It was a good time to reflect upon the changes that had happened in my life.

pon·der

BrE

/ˈpɒndə(r)/

🔊

NAmE

/ˈpɑːndər/

🔊

verb

present simple - I / you / we / they

ponder

BrE

/ˈpɒndə(r)/