# ponder

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈpɒn.də(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #18,399

## Definitions
1. To wonder, think of deeply.
2. To consider (something) carefully and thoroughly.
3. To weigh.

## Etymology
From Middle English ponderen, from Old French ponderer (“to weigh, balance, ponder”) from Latin ponderāre (“to weigh, ponder”), from pondus (“weight”), from pendere (“to weigh”); see pendent and pound.

## Easily confused with
- **power** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-power)
- **Ponte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-ponte)
- **poser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-poser)
- **powder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-powder)
- **poster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-poster)
- **potter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-potter)
- **porter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-porter)
- **ponies** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-ponies)
- **punter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-punter)
- **popper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-popper)
- **Posner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-posner)
- **pooper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-pooper)
- **powders** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-powders)
- **pounder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-pounder)
- **powdery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-powdery)
- **pondered** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponder-vs-pondered)
- **pond** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pond-vs-ponder)
- **poker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poker-vs-ponder)
- **ponce** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponce-vs-ponder)
- **panzer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/panzer-vs-ponder)

## Common misspellings (9)
`opnder`, `pnoder`, `podner`, `pondder`, `ponderr`, `pondre`, `ponedr`, `ponnder`, `pponder`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ponder