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

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

He trekked to China to meditate with monks at a Shaolin temple.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025

There is so much to unpack, dissect, consider and meditate upon.

From Salon • Nov. 11, 2025

Wake up and meditate Ideally, I’d get up at 9 a.m. to get enough enough sleep, but also get some things done for the day.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2025

He ventured into the occult—organizing séances and planchette sessions at home, or meeting his friends to meditate at a crematorium at night.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

• ponder
• ruminate