contemplate

/ˈkɑn.təmˌpleɪt/

//ˈkɑn.təmˌpleɪt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"contemplate" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“contemplate” has 17 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #16,872. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#16,872
frequency rank, English
5,599
“C” headwords
17
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To look at on all sides or in all its aspects; to view or consider with continued attention; to regard with deliberate care; to meditate on; to study, ponder, or consider.

Corpus desk

Index EN-contemplate · contemplate · English

contemplate · rank #16,872 · 17 variants · 2 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #16,872
  • LEN-MEGA 11 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 2 pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 17 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 5,599
  • PHOTO-FINISH constrained

Nearest frequency peer: constrained (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “contemplate”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “contemplate” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

contemplate vs contemplated
92% similar
contemplate vs contemplative
85% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for contemplate
PropertyValue
Headwordcontemplate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈkɑn.təmˌpleɪt/
Letters11
Frequency rank#16,872
Misspellings tracked17
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “contemplate”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).contemplatelands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “constrained” (#16,871), “converter” (#16,873), “confidently” (#16,870). Among 5,599 “C” headwords, “contemplate” is #16,872. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 17 spelling variants around contemplate (IPA /ˈkɑn.təmˌpleɪt/), averb. Corpus frequency is #16,872 among 5,599 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 17 likely wrong-spelling variants for contemplate, with forms such as "ccontemplate", "cnotemplate", and "conetmplate". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "contemplated", "contemplative", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: First attested in the 1590s; borrowed from Latin contemplātus, the perfect active participle of contemplor (“to observe, survey, gaze (at), contemplate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). See also template. The correct English form is contemplate, spelled C-O-N-T-E-M-P-L-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To look at on all sides or in all its aspects; to view or consider with continued attention; to regard with deliberate care; to meditate on; to study, ponder, or consider.
  2. 2
    To consider as a possibility.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how contemplate appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. To love, at least contemplate and admire, / What I see excellent.
  2. We thus dilate / Our spirits to the size of that they contemplate.

Etymology

First attested in the 1590s; borrowed from Latin contemplātus, the perfect active participle of contemplor (“to observe, survey, gaze (at), contemplate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). See also template.

Synonyms

examine

This word in other languages

envisager(Français)nachsinnen(Deutsch)contemplar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ccontemplate
  • cnotemplate
  • conetmplate
  • conntemplate
  • contemlpate
  • contemmplate
  • contempalte
  • contemplaet
  • contemplatte
  • contempllate
  • contempltae
  • contempplate
  • contepmlate
  • contmeplate
  • conttemplate
  • cotnemplate
  • ocntemplate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of contemplate - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ccontemplate1cnotemplate2conetmplate2conntemplate1contemlpate2contemmplate1contempalte2contemplaet2
Edit distance from "contemplate"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "contemplate"?
"contemplate" is spelled C-O-N-T-E-M-P-L-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɑn.təmˌpleɪt/.
What does "contemplate" mean?
As a verb, "contemplate" means: To look at on all sides or in all its aspects; to view or consider with continued attention; to regard with deliberate care; to meditate on; to study, ponder, or consider.
What words are commonly confused with "contemplate"?
"contemplate" is commonly confused with "contemplated", "contemplative". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "contemplate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "contemplate" is /ˈkɑn.təmˌpleɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "contemplate"?
First attested in the 1590s; borrowed from Latin contemplātus, the perfect active participle of contemplor (“to observe, survey, gaze (at), contemplate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). See also template. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "contemplate", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 11 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

constrained#16,871confidently#16,870commonplace#16,867directorate#16,890

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (17 here; floor ≥5).

anonymously17 variantswitchcraft17 variantsheartbroken17 variantsstronghold17 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list