Thinking about something with curiosity; asking yourself a question without knowing the answer.
From Old English 'wundrian,' related to 'wonder' meaning something that inspires amazement. The verb evolved from the noun—you first 'wonder' at something (are amazed), then came to 'wonder about' (think curiously about) by the 1300s.
Wondering is neurologically distinct from problem-solving—when you wonder, your brain's 'default mode network' activates, a different system from focused thinking, which is why your best ideas often come when you're daydreaming rather than forcing solutions!
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