meditate

American  

[med-i-teyt] / ˈmɛd ɪˌteɪt /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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)

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of meditate

First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin meditātus “contemplated, planned,” past participle of meditārī “to meditate, contemplate, plan”

Example Sentences

Now, Angelenos can meditate on his importance to the sport through the numerous murals of him and his late daughter, Gianna, around the city.

From Los Angeles Times

Then they’re encouraged to light a candle and meditate on positive intentions they want to bring into their lives.

From Los Angeles Times

There was a lot of time for reflection and Izzy said she would write in her journal, meditate, read and pray - even though she had never been religious before.

From BBC

While you meditate you brood on the impermanence of all things, including yourself, and envision yourself as a corpse, lying out on a bier, all life gone.

From The Wall Street Journal

My father didn’t meditate, didn’t track his steps or explicitly “exercise,” and never once uttered the word “mindfulness.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ponder
• ruminate