Ponder means to think about something carefully and deeply, often considering it from multiple perspectives. It suggests reflection or contemplation, typically before making a decision or forming an opinion. When someone ponders, they are often reflecting on something complex or important, and the process is typically slower and more thoughtful. In Indonesian, ponder can be translated as merenung or memikirkan.
Synonyms for “ponder” include:
- Contemplate
- Reflect
- Consider
- Think about
- Mull over
- Meditate
- Deliberate
- Ruminate
- Weigh
- Brood
Example Sentences:
- She sat in silence, pondering the decision before her.
- After hearing the proposal, he needed some time to ponder the potential outcomes.
- I often ponder the meaning of life during quiet moments.
- He pondered over whether he should accept the job offer.
- The teacher asked the students to ponder the consequences of their actions.
- She pondered whether to move to the city or stay in the countryside.
- He was pondering how to solve the complex issue.
- They spent hours pondering the best approach to the problem.
- She pondered what had gone wrong in the project.
- It’s important to ponder your options before making such an important decision.
Related Words:
- Reflect
- Contemplate
- Consider
- Mull over
- Meditate
- Weigh
- Brood
- Ruminate
- Think
- Deliberate
Phrasal Verbs Related to “Ponder”:
- Ponder over – to think about something carefully, often for a period of time (e.g., He spent the afternoon pondering over the situation).
- Ponder on – another way of saying to reflect or think deeply about something (e.g., I need to ponder on her words before responding).
- Mull over – to think about or consider something deeply (e.g., She mull over the proposal for several days before agreeing).
- Weigh up – to carefully consider all options or information (e.g., He needed time to weigh up the pros and cons before making a decision).
- Think through – to consider something carefully and in detail (e.g., She took the time to think through all the possible outcomes).
- Dwell on – to continue thinking about something, often in a way that might prevent moving forward (e.g., Don’t dwell on your mistakes, just learn from them).
Idiomatic Expressions Related to “Ponder”:
- Sleep on it – to take time to think something over before making a decision (e.g., Let’s sleep on it and talk again tomorrow).
- Chew on something – to think about something carefully, similar to pondering (e.g., He needed to chew on the idea for a while before making a decision).
- Cross one’s mind – to briefly think about something (e.g., It never even crossed my mind to consider that option).
- Weigh one’s options – to carefully consider different possibilities or decisions (e.g., She took a while to weigh her options before accepting the offer).
- In two minds – to be undecided or unsure about something (e.g., She was in two minds about the move, unable to decide).
- Go back and forth – to reconsider or debate different possibilities (e.g., They were going back and forth on which route to take).
