meditate

[med-i-teyt]

verb (used without object)

meditated, meditating 

1. to engage in thought or contemplation; reflect.

   Synonyms: think, study, cogitate, ruminate, muse, ponder

2. to engage in Transcendental Meditation, devout religious contemplation, or quiescent spiritual introspection.

verb (used with object)

meditated, meditating 

1. to consider as something to be done or effected; intend; purpose.

   to meditate revenge.

   Synonyms: contrive, devise, plan, contemplate

meditate

/ ˈmɛdɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. (intr; foll by on or upon) to think about something deeply

2. (intr) to reflect deeply on spiritual matters, esp as a religious act

   I make space to meditate every day

3. (tr) to plan, consider, or think of doing (something)

Other Word Forms

• meditativeness noun
• meditative adjective
• meditator noun
• meditatively adverb
• meditatingly adverb
• unmeditated adjective
• unmeditating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of meditate¹

First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin meditātus “contemplated, planned,” past participle of meditārī “to meditate, contemplate, plan”

Word History and Origins

Origin of meditate¹

C16: from Latin meditārī to reflect upon

Example Sentences

“Listening to the sound of the Dodgers game and having 100 people just meditating at the top of the city — I was smiling ear-to-ear.”

From Los Angeles Times

He tells people to meditate, but never meditates.

From Los Angeles Times

That was the goal when Maiava set out this summer to take himself seriously — reading and meditating and drilling down the finer points of the position.

From Los Angeles Times

I’ll also do 10 minutes of red light therapy and I’ll maybe meditate for a few minutes to calm myself down, then go to bed.

From Los Angeles Times

Victorious Solomon greeted us at Den Urban Dog Retreat in a man bun and T-shirt that reads “meditate with your dog.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ponder 
• ruminate