1
as in meditation
long or deep thinking about spiritual matters the decision to enter a monastery and to spend one's life in prayer and contemplation

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2
as in anticipation
the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence in contemplation of their children's college expenses, they started saving early

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of contemplation And when the internet bloomed, people grew alarmed that easy access to information would erode our capacity for concentration and contemplation. Robert B. Tucker, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 The song plays as Jack reflects on everything unfolding in his world — a moment of quiet contemplation and inner reckoning. Peter White, Deadline, 18 June 2025 But this need for stopping and contemplation is not only a contemporary one, as evidenced in those artworks in the galleries, many of which were centuries old and made with the intention of being pondered in the dark corners of churches and chapels. Elisa Wouk Almino, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025 As a result, the existing structure incentivizes the Metra, Pace and CTA boards to make decisions grounded in maintaining their individual fiefdoms — with no contemplation of their relation to the entire Chicago region. Joe Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for contemplation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemplation
Noun
  • Calm your mind, center your spirit, and set your intentions for the day as our wellness expert leads you through a relaxing meditation session.
    Essence, Essence, 8 July 2025
  • To ease yourself to sleep, find a nightly ritual that works for you—listen to a meditation app, have a cup of herbal tea, take a warm bath, read a chapter or two of a good book, or all the above.
    Holly Carter, People.com, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • The fireworks were scheduled to start at 9:15 p.m., and hundreds of visitors — including families with young children — had already set up chairs at Fort Mellon Park and along Sanford’s Riverwalk in eager anticipation of the Independence Day event.
    Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 July 2025
  • Amazon’s beloved Prime Day is back starting July 8, but early deals are already dropping in anticipation.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • The firm's estimate is even lower than analyst expectations.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 8 July 2025
  • This shift significantly changes how maps are consumed and raises expectations around their precision, accuracy and delivery.
    Michael Harrell, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Contemplation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemplation. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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