con·tem·pla·tive
kən-ˈtem-plə-tiv 
ˈkän-təm-ˌplā-,
-ˌtem-
: marked by or given to contemplation
specifically
: of or relating to a religious order devoted to prayer and penance
a contemplative order of nuns
contemplatively
adverb
contemplativeness
noun
: a person who practices contemplation
Synonyms
Examples of contemplative in a Sentence
Adjective
He has lived a quiet, contemplative life.
She joined a contemplative order of nuns.
Recent Examples on the Web
Expert Panel®, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Kaya is curious, contemplative, fearless, and comfortable exploring her creativity outside of her comfort zone.
—Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024
As a result, the interviews have a more contemplative, reverent, and wistful tone than those in the filmmaker’s other musical projects.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, each actor's performance as a soft, contemplative elder statesman has a soulful, grandfatherly quality that complicates the damage that their characters do.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024
As if charting the cartography of her soul from her vivacious 20s through the profound 30s to the contemplative 40s, each iteration of Xiao Xia encapsulates the multifaceted essence of a woman’s pilgrimage through life.
—Billboard China, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024
The art form reflects contemplative ideas of nature, elements, and change, uniquely expressed on a small scale.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024
His characters are often haunted, contemplative, and always fascinating.
—Danny Horn, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2024
Yet the 24-year-old former standout at Agoura High School is now more contemplative.
—John Ortega, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024
Thessaly La Force, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
The lengthy, meandering interview displayed sides of Musk from combative and smug to philosophical and contemplative.
—Jaimie Ding, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2023
Worldly and contemplative, the Hated were marking their place in an unjust society, perhaps to simply affirm their existence.
—Chris Richards, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
This contemplative, unhurried workflow resulted in Promises, the 2021 collaborative album from Floating Points and Sanders, along with the London Symphony Orchestra.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 19 Sep. 2023
Pictured in a black hat and her sunglasses, the singer sat on the floor looking contemplative in the first photo.
—Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2023
Both contemplative, both informed by Grant’s mellow vocals, the tracks have jumpstarted Grant’s return to songwriting.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 5 May 2023
It’s this juxtaposition — between the feel-good and the contemplative — that not only defines Ballerini’s life at the moment but also her mature and refreshing new LP.
—Dan Hyman, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2022
Stolevski treats every frame with a gentle, Terrence Malick–ian touch, creating a contemplative—and spellbinding—study of the human condition through the eyes of an unconventional subject.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2022
Adjective
Take contemplative walks through bustling city streets or serene forest paths, tuning in to the subtle stimuli that surround you.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Kaya is curious, contemplative, fearless, and comfortable exploring her creativity outside of her comfort zone.
—Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024
As a result, the interviews have a more contemplative, reverent, and wistful tone than those in the filmmaker’s other musical projects.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, each actor's performance as a soft, contemplative elder statesman has a soulful, grandfatherly quality that complicates the damage that their characters do.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024
As if charting the cartography of her soul from her vivacious 20s through the profound 30s to the contemplative 40s, each iteration of Xiao Xia encapsulates the multifaceted essence of a woman’s pilgrimage through life.
—Billboard China, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024
The art form reflects contemplative ideas of nature, elements, and change, uniquely expressed on a small scale.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024
His characters are often haunted, contemplative, and always fascinating.
—Danny Horn, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2024
Yet the 24-year-old former standout at Agoura High School is now more contemplative.
—John Ortega, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024
Noun
Rebecca Hall stood in front of an easel, her face contemplative.
—Thessaly La Force, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
The lengthy, meandering interview displayed sides of Musk from combative and smug to philosophical and contemplative.
—Jaimie Ding, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2023
Worldly and contemplative, the Hated were marking their place in an unjust society, perhaps to simply affirm their existence.
—Chris Richards, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
This contemplative, unhurried workflow resulted in Promises, the 2021 collaborative album from Floating Points and Sanders, along with the London Symphony Orchestra.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 19 Sep. 2023
Pictured in a black hat and her sunglasses, the singer sat on the floor looking contemplative in the first photo.
—Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2023
Both contemplative, both informed by Grant’s mellow vocals, the tracks have jumpstarted Grant’s return to songwriting.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 5 May 2023
It’s this juxtaposition — between the feel-good and the contemplative — that not only defines Ballerini’s life at the moment but also her mature and refreshing new LP.
—Dan Hyman, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2022
Stolevski treats every frame with a gentle, Terrence Malick–ian touch, creating a contemplative—and spellbinding—study of the human condition through the eyes of an unconventional subject.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contemplative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near contemplative
Cite this Entry
“Contemplative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contemplative. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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