ponder

/ˈpän-dər/

Middle English, from Middle French ponderer, from Latin ponderare to weigh, ponder, from ponder-, pondus weight

verb

  1. to weigh in the mind : appraise

  2. to think about : reflect, on

  3. to think or consider especially quietly, soberly, and deeply

pondered their chances of success

ponder meditate muse ruminate mean to consider or examine attentively or deliberately. ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter. meditate implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something so as to understand it deeply.