Ponders about how to reply (7)
I believe the answer is:
respond
'to reply' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'ponders about' is the wordplay.
'about' indicates an anagram.
'ponders' anagrammed gives 'RESPOND'.
'how' is the link.
(Other definitions for respond that I've seen before include "React (positively) to a stimulus or treatment" , "Write back" , "Answer back" , "State in reply" , "Reply - react" .)