to ponder over
3
4.1
- phrasal verb
- /ˈpɒndər ˈoʊvər/
- She took a moment to ponder over the implications of her decision before speaking.
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Watch on YouTubeSince he came to Low Torning, he'd held in mind and pondered over all he'd ever learned of Dragons.
- Since he came to Low Torning, he'd held in mind and pondered over all he'd ever learned of Dragons.
- That's a very interesting thought to ponder over.
Examples
-
This is why Luke writes of her, "Mary stored all these things up in her heart, and pondered over what they might mean."
Blog text (34) -
The thoughts and concerns you presented are all the ones that I've pondered over the past two years, and it's encouraging to see that we came to the same conclusions!
Blog text (34) -
I pondered over this strange conversation.
Fiction book (1999) -
As I pondered over this, I returned to those sources that had informed me years earlier.
Academic text (2012) -
I put a border on it and pondered over the quilting for a bit.
Blog text (4) -
Reuben pondered over the silver pieces.
Fiction book (1998) -
I've been pondering over this passage since July.
Blog text (14) -
Thanks for all the wonderful, real-life people and places I've had the privilege to view and ponder over.
Blog text (34) -
Dear brother in the family of mankind, I read your email message of October 2nd carefully, and I have well pondered over your emotions regarding the victims of the two towers.
Blog text (8) -
Alan pondered over that for a moment, thinking that far from being passive, Jinx was describing herself as a consummate manipulator.
Fiction book (1996)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Study something carefully to understand it or decide
∞
1.0
To give attention to something in your mind
∞
1.1
To think carefully before making a decision
349
1.0
To look at something carefully to understand it
194
3.9
To think carefully about something before making a decision
185
4.8
To think deeply about something for a long time
154
4.0
To think carefully about something and what it means
128
4.3
Think carefully for a long time about something
74
3.9
To plan something carefully before you do it
70
3.0
To look at something carefully before deciding
61
3.9
To think carefully about something for a while before deciding
50
4.4
To think about something very carefully before deciding
40
4.7
Think carefully for a long time before making a decision
37
3.2
To look at all the details and what may happen before you decide
33
6.1
To think about something carefully for a long time
24
4.0
To think carefully about something before deciding
12
7.6
To think carefully about something for a long time
8
5.9
Think carefully about something because it is hard to understand
5
4.1
To think about or talk about something carefully for a long time
3
8.5
To think carefully and deeply about something
1
9.9
To think very carefully to find a new idea or solution
1
7.7
To think about something slowly and in a relaxed way
Antonyms
How Deep
Surface Forms
Morphology
ponder + over
The meaning 'to think about something carefully and for a long time' is directly derivable from combining 'ponder' (to reflect at length) with the preposition 'over' which marks the target of thought; there is no idiomatic shift. This verb+preposition composition is compositional and follows common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would understand it.
Etymology
Ponder over comes from an old idea of weighing things: ponder once meant to put something on a scale and over means 'about'. So to ponder over something is to 'weigh' a thought slowly in your mind, which is why it means to 'think carefully' for a long time.