philosophize

[ fi-los-uh-fahyz ]

/ fɪˈlɒs əˌfaɪz /

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See synonyms for: philosophize / philosophizing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), phi·los·o·phized, phi·los·o·phiz·ing.

to speculate or theorize, usually in a superficial or imprecise manner.

to think or reason as a philosopher.

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Also especially British, phi·los·o·phise .

Origin of philosophize

First recorded in 1585–95; philosoph(y) + -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM philosophize

phi·los·o·phi·za·tion, nounphi·los·o·phiz·er, nouno·ver·phi·los·o·phize, verb (used without object), o·ver·phi·los·o·phized, o·ver·phi·los·o·phiz·ing.well-phi·los·o·phized, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use philosophize in a sentence

I try to imagine in the book whether cats would philosophize at all if they had the intellectual capacity to do it.
Everything is awful. Here’s a Q&A with a philosopher about why cats rule.|Sean Illing|January 15, 2021|Vox
So if cats could philosophize, my guess is they’d do it for their own amusement, not because of some deep need for peace.
Everything is awful. Here’s a Q&A with a philosopher about why cats rule.|Sean Illing|January 15, 2021|Vox
Which is why, if they could philosophize, it would be for fun.
Everything is awful. Here’s a Q&A with a philosopher about why cats rule.|Sean Illing|January 15, 2021|Vox
I have my own large amount of prophetic dialogue, and I love philosophizing.
Matthew McConaughey Discusses His Golden Globe Victory, ‘True Detective,’ and More|Marlow Stern|January 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Now and again, someone sees through the decorative math, but the semipro philosophizing just goes on and on.
Barbara Fredrickson’s Bestselling ‘Positivity’ Is Trashed by a New Study|Will Wilkinson|August 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
BC produced three issues of Made in USA, a fashion glossy that could include coverage of H&M alongside French philosophizing.
Bernadette Corporation: Mutating Art Collective Succeeds in the Avant Garde|Blake Gopnik|September 7, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Its schoolboy philosophizing was too transparent and undramatic.
‘Dark Knight Rises’: Christopher Nolan’s Masterpiece|Richard Rushfield|July 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
As the pair indulge in some after-sex philosophizing, he tells her of a dispute he once had with his boss.
The Best of Brit Lit|Peter Stothard|October 1, 2010|DAILY BEAST
You read a lot about courage in politics in such newspapers as these that have been philosophizing about me at long range.
A Hoosier Chronicle|Meredith Nicholson
Philosophizing thus, he presently sent the Green Imp at her quietest pace in at the home driveway.
Red Pepper Burns|Grace S. Richmond
Their philosophizing career stands chronologically between that of their Arab teachers and their Christian disciples.
A History of Mediaeval Jewish Philosophy|Isaac Husik
It is one of the principal rules of philosophizing to admit no more causes than are necessary to account for the effects.
Heads of Lectures on a Course of Experimental Philosophy: Particularly Including Chemistry|Joseph Priestley
While I was philosophizing upon the duties of man, an event happened which made me better reflect upon my own.
The Confessions of J. J. Rousseau, Complete|Jean Jacques Rousseau

British Dictionary definitions for philosophize

philosophize

philosophise

/ (fɪˈlɒsəˌfaɪz) /

verb

(intr) to make philosophical pronouncements and speculations

(tr) to explain philosophically

Derived forms of philosophize

philosophization or philosophisation, nounphilosophizer or philosophiser, noun

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

philosophize

Origin of philosophize

OTHER WORDS FROM philosophize

Words related to philosophize

How to use philosophize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for philosophize

philosophise

Derived forms of philosophize