premeditate

American  

[pri-med-i-teyt] / prɪˈmɛd ɪˌteɪt /

verb (used with object)

premeditated, premeditating

1. to meditate, consider, or plan beforehand.

   to premeditate a murder.

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premeditate British  

/ prɪˈmɛdɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. to plan or consider (something, such as a violent crime) beforehand

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Related Words

See deliberate.

Other Word Forms

• premeditatedly adverb
• premeditative adjective
• premeditator noun

Etymology

Origin of premeditate

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin praemeditātus, past participle of praemeditārī “to contemplate in advance”; pre-, meditate

Explanation

When you premeditate, you are planning ahead. While most people associate this word with crime, let's hope you can think of a better reason to premeditate — like buying groceries before a storm. When you meditate, you think deeply. The prefix pre- means “before,” so to premeditate means to think about a situation before you’ve jumped into it. If you’ve ever cooked a meal, you’ve premeditated the ingredients you need to get started. In a courtroom you’ll hear about "premeditated murder," which means the accused killer planned out his crime and it wasn’t a crime of passion. Premeditating can be a good thing, but not when it involves murder.

Example Sentences

Mayfield wouldn’t say what he’ll do against the Browns, adding “I’m not going to premeditate anything. Once I step inside the lines, I’m a competitor.’

From Seattle Times • Aug. 30, 2022

Derek was into discovering things that you couldn’t premeditate.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2020

"At no time did I premeditate interfering with anyone," said Maragh, whose mount finished last in the field of 12.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 13, 2011

When I decide to make a movie, I don't premeditate it.

From The Guardian • Jan. 23, 2011

"Then it couldn't have been done by Miss Van Allen!" exclaimed Mrs. Reeves triumphantly, "for Vicky had no reason to premeditate killing a man she had never seen before."

From Vicky Van by Wells, Carolyn