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

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

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

He meditated and prayed to archangels as an attempt to pull himself back together.

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He said he also meditated on the matter.

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He also meditates daily and makes sure to get adequate movement every day, in addition to yoga.

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On the remarkable and moving “Little Gears,” a waltz-time number built atop piano and brushed drums, she meditates on a spider weaving a web.

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

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Related Words

• ponder 
• ruminate