meditate
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
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(intr; foll by on or upon) to think about something deeply
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(intr) to reflect deeply on spiritual matters, esp as a religious act
I make space to meditate every day
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(tr) to plan, consider, or think of doing (something)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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unmeditatedadjective
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meditativelyadverb
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unmeditatingadjective
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meditatinglyadverb
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meditatornoun
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meditativenessnoun
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meditativeadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has meditatedperfect 3rd person singular
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have meditatedperfect
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have been meditatingperfect progressive
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is meditatingprogressive 3rd person singular
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meditatingparticiple
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are meditatingprogressive
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meditatessingular 3rd person
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am meditatingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been meditatingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had meditatedperfect
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were meditatingprogressive plural
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was meditatingprogressive singular
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had been meditatingperfect progressive
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meditatedparticiple
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meditatedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of meditate
First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin meditātus “contemplated, planned,” past participle of meditārī “to meditate, contemplate, plan”
Explanation
When you meditate, you silently calm or focus your mind for relaxation or spiritual reasons. People who meditate regularly can put a stop to racing thoughts, making them less distracted. When you meditate, you focus on your breathing while sitting calmly. Some people mediate to reduce stress, while others see it as part of their spiritual practice. Meditate can also be used to describe any deep thinking you do, like when you meditate on what to say to a friend who is feeling sad lately. The Latin word for "ponder," meditari, is the root of meditate.
Vocabulary lists containing meditate
Think Tank: Thought-Provoking Vocabulary
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50 Words from Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice"
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Schooled
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But Rollins, who later moved to a farm in upstate New York where he had space to meditate, would grow pessimistic at humanity's prospects.
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
I go to my special room with a Buddhist shrine where I meditate for an hour or two.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026
His practice can be intentionally repetitive, reflecting the monotony of cancer treatment, and inspires viewers to meditate with the movement.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026
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 • Feb. 1, 2026
There, at noon and again at around three in the afternoon, unnoticed by others in the furniture store, we would rinse our hands, faces and mouths, and softly meditate.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
