premeditated
Americanadjective
Synonym Usage
See deliberate.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of premeditated
Explanation
Something premeditated is planned in advanced and has a purpose behind it. In other words, it's no accident. A premeditated crime involves careful planning and research before it happens. Premeditated comes from a combination of two Latin words: pre, meaning "before," and meditat, meaning “to ponder.” If you ponder — or think about — something before you act, that makes it premeditated. If you watch a lot of TV crime dramas, you may be familiar with the term "premeditated murder." This means that the murderer didn't just lose his temper and kill someone in the moment — instead, he went after a specific person on purpose.
Vocabulary lists containing premeditated
Power Prefix: pre-
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Twelve Angry Men
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Franklin D. Roosevelt, "A Date That Will Live In Infamy" (1941)
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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.
The prosecution’s argument is simpler and meaner, almost reminiscent of Steinbeck: Clancy’s actions were premeditated, her way of escaping a life she didn’t want anymore.
From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026
They believe that this was intentional and premeditated, and I think they’re going to stand by those beliefs.
From Slate ● Sep. 4, 2026
“I thought he swung the bat pretty well. So, it’s a premeditated day off today. He’ll be back in there tomorrow, but I guess no news is good news.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
Prosecutors argued the murders were premeditated, while her defense contended she had been suffering from postpartum psychosis and depression, and that she wasn’t properly treated or diagnosed by care providers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
“No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion,” Roosevelt declared, “the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.”
From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
