Select the most appropriate synonym of the underlined word.

My father took a moment to ponder before signing the deeds of our ancestral home.

Contemplate

The most appropriate synonym of the underlined word ponder in the given sentence is contemplate.

• Ponder means to think about something carefully and deeply.
• Hesitate means to delay or hold back in doing something because of doubt or uncertainty.
• Contemplate means to think about something deeply and carefully, especially with the intention of forming an opinion or plan.
• Sigh means to breathe out deeply and audibly, often as an expression of sadness, relief, or tiredness.
• Brief means lasting for a short time.