premeditate

American

[pri-med-i-teyt] / prɪˈmɛd ɪˌteɪt /

verb (used with object)

premeditated, premeditating

to meditate, consider, or plan beforehand.

to premeditate a murder.

premeditate British

/ prɪˈmɛdɪˌteɪt /

verb

to plan or consider (something, such as a violent crime) beforehand

"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

Related Words

See deliberate.

Other Word Forms

premeditatedly adverb
premeditative adjective
premeditator noun

Etymology

Origin of premeditate

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin praemeditātus, past participle of praemeditārī “to contemplate in advance”; pre-, meditate

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 defense attorney Tom Jacquinot said in his opening statement that the evidence will show Vrba did not premeditate to kill Steinfeld, who was his friend.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 3, 2020

Derek was into discovering things that you couldn’t premeditate.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2020

"At no time did I premeditate interfering with anyone," said Maragh, whose mount finished last in the field of 12.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 13, 2011

When I decide to make a movie, I don't premeditate it.

From The Guardian • Jan. 23, 2011

Does not Shakspeare himself sometimes premeditate the sheerest bombast!

From Life of Robert Burns by Carlyle, Thomas

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