verb
ponder
PON-duh
verb
1
To think about something carefully and for a long time.
"She sat by the window, pondering her next move."
"He pondered the question before finally answering."
How to Use Ponder
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo think deeply and carefully about something before deciding or answering.
Common pairings
ponder a question
ponder over something
pause to ponder
Word Forms
pondered past tense, ponders plural, Ponders plural, ponders singular
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She sat by the window, _____ her next move.
Etymology
From Old French ponderer, "to weigh," from Latin ponderāre, from pondus ("weight") — to ponder is literally to "weigh" an idea in your mind.