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

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

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

“I thought therapy was for rich, entitled people. I thought that meditating was woo-woo,” Price says.

From Los Angeles Times

A Rembrandt painting is beginning a national tour, with viewers urged to meditate on the work to boost their mental health.

From BBC

“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

Related Words

• ponder 
• ruminate