Synonyms

cogitate

American

[koj-i-teyt] / ˈkɒdʒ ɪˌteɪt /

verb (used without object)

to think hard; ponder; meditate.

to cogitate about a problem.

Synonyms:

reflect, deliberate

verb (used with object)

to think about; devise.

to cogitate a scheme.

Synonyms:

weigh

cogitate British

/ ˈkɒdʒɪˌteɪt /

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of cogitate

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

Explanation

To cogitate is a fancy way of saying to think hard about. If you spend a lot of time figuring out exactly how your French teacher does her hair, you are cogitating in order to avoid conjugating. Cogitate can be used both transitively or intransitively, which means you can cogitate on something, like your history project or why your computer never seems to work the way you want it to. Or you can simply sit in your room and cogitate.

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