cogitate

[ koj-i-teyt ]

verb (used without object)

, cog·i·tat·ed, cog·i·tat·ing.

1. to think hard; ponder; meditate:

   to cogitate about a problem.

   Synonyms: reflect, deliberate

verb (used with object)

, cog·i·tat·ed, cog·i·tat·ing.

1. to think about; devise:

   to cogitate a scheme.

   Synonyms: weigh

cogitate

/ ˈkɒdʒɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. to think deeply about (a problem, possibility, etc); ponder

Derived Forms

• ˌcogiˈtation, noun
• ˈcogiˌtatingly, adverb
• ˈcogiˌtator, noun

Other Words From

• cogi·tating·ly adverb
• cogi·tator noun
• pre·cogi·tate verb precogitated precogitating

Word History and Origins

Origin of cogitate¹

1555–65; < Latin cōgitātus (past participle of cōgitāre ), equivalent to co- co- + agitātus; agitate

Word History and Origins

Origin of cogitate¹

C16: from Latin cōgitāre, from co- (intensive) + agitāre to turn over, agitate

Example Sentences

As his characters cogitate and self-medicate, scheme and philosophize, his subject is less the content of their thoughts than the mind contemplating itself.

From Washington Post

Nevertheless, the media machine will cogitate for the next 48 hours on the supposed winners and losers.

From The Daily Beast

Let me see; let me think, reflect, cogitate, tickle the thinker.

From Project Gutenberg

It is chiefly this class of holiday-makers that we have in our minds whilst we cogitate the hints in these pages.

From Project Gutenberg

The word "Coger" does not imply codger, or a drinker of cogs, but comes from cogite, to cogitate.

From Project Gutenberg

There on the low stone wall bordering on the east the property of Captain Orrin Eldridge, he seated himself to rest and cogitate.

From Project Gutenberg

He will lift his eyebrows with a certain look of contempt, and continue to cogitate—about nothing.

From Project Gutenberg