meditation
Americannoun
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the act of meditating.
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continued or extended thought; reflection; contemplation.
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devout religious contemplation or spiritual introspection.
noun
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the act of meditating; contemplation; reflection
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contemplation of spiritual matters, esp as a religious practice
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of meditation
First recorded in 1175–1225; from Latin meditātiōn-, stem of meditātiō “contemplation, planning”; equivalent to meditate + -ion
Explanation
A meditation is an extended period of thought or concentration. If you practice yoga and you often meditate, you know what meditation is. But any time you focus on one thing for a long time, it's an act of meditation. After you've thought about something for a while, you can write about it, and that writing could be called a meditation, too. Beethoven's Ode to Joy is a meditation on joy. If you're easily upset by things, consider meditation. Slowing down your thought process and concentrating on it for a while can make you feel better. Samurai were known for meditating before going into battle. Meditation gave them focus, and focus gave them power.
Vocabulary lists containing meditation
World Religions
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South Asia - Introductory
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South Asia - Middle School and High School
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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.
See Examples For:
Days later a photo began to circulate in internal company group chats, showing a line of people waiting to get into the two-story space, which offers cocktails, a game room and meditation areas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Its key highlights were a meditation sanctuary, vegetarian restaurant and "psychic" readings, organised by the British Astrological Society and Psychic Society.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
A memory play of quiet complexity, “We Had a World” is a moving meditation on the challenge of appreciating our imperfect yet irreplaceable loved ones in the time that’s available.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Phra Sompong, who was a monk in the group, said he was chanting the meditation mantra "Buddho, Buddho" before the crash happened.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
The chaplain relished the privacy and isolation of his verdant surroundings and the reverie and meditation that living there fostered.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
His digital chorus, which includes personas for guided meditations and narrating fantasy tales, earns him about $3,000 a month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
“Fantasy” resulted from his meditations within the pyramids of Giza and his claimed communications with aliens.
From Salon ● Jun. 7, 2026
Fragrance communities can be a surprisingly grounding place to explore these existential meditations.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026
His involvement grew serious after her death from cancer in 1972, and in “The Snow Leopard” his customarily graceful observations of nature shimmer with mystical meditations on grief, transcendence and enlightenment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
Dallben interrupted his meditations to be present at the feast; though soon after the festivities, he withdrew to his chamber and was not seen for some time.
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
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.
