Synonyms

meditate

American

[med-i-teyt] / ˈmɛd ɪˌteɪt /

verb (used without object)

to engage in thought or contemplation; reflect.

Synonyms:

think, study, cogitate, ruminate, muse, ponder
to engage in Transcendental Meditation, devout religious contemplation, or quiescent spiritual introspection.

verb (used with object)

to consider as something to be done or effected; intend; purpose.

to meditate revenge.

Synonyms:

contrive, devise, plan, contemplate

meditate British

/ ˈmɛdɪˌteɪt /

verb

(intr; foll by on or upon) to think about something deeply
(intr) to reflect deeply on spiritual matters, esp as a religious act

I make space to meditate every day
(tr) to plan, consider, or think of doing (something)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Present

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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.

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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.

Meditate before starting the day The first thing I do when I wake up is meditate.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2024

Meditate had it a little easier in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, beating Pleasant Passage by 2 1/2 lengths.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 4, 2022

She also started a podcast called Yogi Talks and a meditation platform called Meditate Don’t Hate.

From Washington Times • Jan. 23, 2021

Meditate, read the paper, put on music during the commute home.

From The Guardian • Feb. 3, 2019

Meditate on the insignificance and evanescence of human life.’

From The Book of Khalid by Rihani, Ameen Fares

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023