premeditated

American

[pri-med-i-tey-tid] / prɪˈmɛd ɪˌteɪ tɪd /

adjective

done deliberately; planned in advance.

a premeditated murder.

Related Words

See deliberate.

Other Word Forms

premeditatedly adverb
unpremeditated adjective

Etymology

Origin of premeditated

First recorded in 1580–90; pre- + meditate + -ed ²

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.

The events of that night have been long a subject of heated debate in South Korea, particularly over whether the murder was premeditated.

From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026

For the actor, Padilha says, choosing what he wants to do is always instinctual, never premeditated.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2025

Although Duke Béla's assassination in November 1272 appears to have been partly or wholly premeditated, the manner of the killing indicates that it was not carried out calmly.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2025

The prosecutor’s office added that early investigations indicated the attacks on government property were premeditated.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 9, 2025

The most effective off- the-cuff speeches are premeditated, and the best premeditated speeches appear off the cuff.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

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