meditate
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
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(intr; foll by on or upon) to think about something deeply
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(intr) to reflect deeply on spiritual matters, esp as a religious act
I make space to meditate every day
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(tr) to plan, consider, or think of doing (something)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of meditate
First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin meditātus “contemplated, planned,” past participle of meditārī “to meditate, contemplate, plan”
Explanation
When you meditate, you silently calm or focus your mind for relaxation or spiritual reasons. People who meditate regularly can put a stop to racing thoughts, making them less distracted. When you meditate, you focus on your breathing while sitting calmly. Some people mediate to reduce stress, while others see it as part of their spiritual practice. Meditate can also be used to describe any deep thinking you do, like when you meditate on what to say to a friend who is feeling sad lately. The Latin word for "ponder," meditari, is the root of meditate.
Vocabulary lists containing meditate
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Schooled
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Meditate before starting the day The first thing I do when I wake up is meditate.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2024
Meditate had it a little easier in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, beating Pleasant Passage by 2 1/2 lengths.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 4, 2022
She also started a podcast called Yogi Talks and a meditation platform called Meditate Don’t Hate.
From Washington Times • Jan. 23, 2021
Meditate, read the paper, put on music during the commute home.
From The Guardian • Feb. 3, 2019
Meditate upon Him, and shut out other things.
From Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI by Maclaren, Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.