Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense meditates, present participle meditating, past tense, past participle meditated
1. verb
If you meditate on something, you think about it very carefully and deeply for a long time.
He meditated on the problem. [VERBon noun]
On the day her son began school, she meditated on the uncertainties of his future. [VERB + on]
2. verb
If you meditate you remain in a silent and calm state for a period of time, as part of a religious training or so that you are more able to deal with the problems and difficulties of everyday life.
I was meditating, and reached a higher state of consciousness. [VERB]
Synonyms: reflect, think, consider, contemplate More Synonyms of meditate
meditate in British English
(ˈmɛdɪˌteɪt)
verb
1. (intr; foll by on or upon)
to think about something deeply
2. (intransitive)
to reflect deeply on spiritual matters, esp as a religious act
I make space to meditate every day
3. (transitive)
to plan, consider, or think of doing (something)
Derived forms
meditative (ˈmeditative)
adjective
meditatively (ˈmeditatively)
adverb
meditativeness (ˈmeditativeness)
noun
meditator (ˈmediˌtator)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin meditārī to reflect upon
meditate in American English
(ˈmɛdəˌteɪt)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈmediˌtated or ˈmediˌtating
1. Rare
to reflect upon; study; ponder
2.
to plan or intend
verb intransitive
3.
to think deeply and continuously; reflect; muse
4.
to engage in or practice meditation (sense 2)
Derived forms
meditator (ˈmediˌtator)
noun
Word origin
< L meditatus, pp. of meditari, to meditate: for base see medical
Examples of 'meditate' in a sentence
meditate
It doubled as a bedroom and a sitting room with its two deep blue chairs inviting one to sink down and meditate by the fire.
Appiganesi, Lisa DREAMS OF INNOCENCE (2002)
The nobles of his court believed he had simply gone away from them for a time to meditate.
Robin Hobb THE GOLDEN FOOL: BOOK TWO OF THE TAWNY MAN (2002)
Just a quiet, comfortable place where people could come to relax and meditate... and worship, of course.
Smith, Evelyn E MISS MELVILLE REGRETS (2002)
Virgil sat down and closed his eyes to meditate, think it out.
Elmore Leonard UNKNOWN MAN #89 (2002)
In other languages
meditate
British English: meditate VERB
If you meditate on something, you think about it very carefully and deeply for a long time.
He meditated on the problem.
American English: meditate
Brazilian Portuguese: meditar
Chinese: 深思
European Spanish: meditar
French: méditer
German: nachdenken
Italian: meditare
Japanese: 熟考する
Korean: ~에 대해 곰곰이 생각하다
European Portuguese: meditar
Latin American Spanish: meditar
Chinese translation of 'meditate'
meditate
(ˈmɛdɪteɪt)
vi
冥想 (míngxiǎng)
(= reflect) 沉思 (chénsī)
to meditate on sth对(對)某事进(進)行深思 (duì mǒushì jìnxíng shēnsī)
(verb)
Definition
to think about something deeply
I was meditating, and reached a higher state of consciousness.
Synonyms
reflect
I reflected on the child's future.
think
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to think.
consider
Consider how much you can afford to pay.
contemplate
He contemplated a career as an army medical doctor.
deliberate
The jury deliberated for two hours before returning with the verdict.
muse
Many of the papers mused on the fate of the President.
He lay and mused in the warm sunlight.
ponder
He didn't waste time pondering the question.
ruminate
I had time to ruminate as I drove along.
cogitate
He was silent as he cogitated on what she had just said.
be in a brown study
plan
They plan to move house next year.
design
a compromise designed to please everyone
scheme
purpose
His life went in the direction that he purposed.
intend
She intends to do A levels and go to university.
devise
We devised a scheme to help him.
have in mind
phrasal verb
See meditate on something
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cogitate
Definition
to think deeply about (something)
He was silent as he cogitated on what she had just said.
Synonyms
think,
consider,
reflect,
contemplate,
deliberate,
muse,
ponder,
meditate,
mull over,
ruminate
in the sense of consider
Definition
to think carefully about (a problem or decision)
Consider how much you can afford to pay.
Synonyms
think about,
study,
reflect on,
examine,
weigh,
contemplate,
deliberate,
muse,
ponder,
revolve,
meditate,
work over,
mull over,
eye up,
ruminate,
chew over,
cogitate,
turn over in your mind
in the sense of contemplate
Definition
to consider as a possibility
He contemplated a career as an army medical doctor.
Synonyms
consider,
plan,
think of,
propose,
intend,
envisage,
foresee,
have in view or in mind
Nearby words of
meditate
medieval
mediocre
mediocrity
meditate
meditate on something
meditation
meditative
Related terms of
meditate
meditate on something
Synonyms of 'meditate'
meditate
Explore 'meditate' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of deliberate
Definition
to consider (something) deeply
The jury deliberated for two hours before returning with the verdict.
Synonyms
consider,
think,
ponder,
discuss,
debate,
reflect,
consult,
weigh,
meditate,
mull over,
ruminate,
cogitate
in the sense of design
Definition
to intend (something) for a specific purpose
a compromise designed to please everyone
Synonyms
intend,
mean,
plan,
aim,
purpose,
adjust,
adapt,
tailor,
contrive,
destine
in the sense of devise
Definition
to work out (something) in one's mind
We devised a scheme to help him.
Synonyms
work out,
plan,
form,
design,
imagine,
frame,
arrange,
plot,
construct,
invent,
conceive,
formulate,
contrive,
dream up,
concoct,
think up
in the sense of intend
Definition
to have as one's purpose
She intends to do A levels and go to university.
Synonyms
plan,
mean,
aim,
determine,
scheme,
propose,
purpose,
contemplate,
envisage,
foresee,
be resolved or determined,
have in mind or view
in the sense of muse
Definition
to think deeply and at length about
Many of the papers mused on the fate of the President.He lay and mused in the warm sunlight.
Synonyms
ponder,
consider,
reflect,
contemplate,
think,
weigh up,
deliberate,
speculate,
brood,
meditate,
mull over,
think over,
ruminate,
cogitate,
be lost in thought,
be in a brown study
in the sense of plan
Definition
to intend
They plan to move house next year.
Synonyms
intend,
aim,
mean,
propose,
purpose,
contemplate,
envisage,
foresee
in the sense of ponder
Definition
to consider thoroughly or deeply
He didn't waste time pondering the question.
Synonyms
think about,
consider,
study,
reflect on,
examine,
weigh up,
contemplate,
deliberate about,
muse on,
brood on,
meditate on,
mull over,
puzzle over,
ruminate on,
give thought to,
cogitate on,
rack your brains about,
cerebrate,
excogitate
in the sense of purpose
Definition
to intend or determine to do (something)
His life went in the direction that he purposed.
Synonyms
intend,
mean,
plan,
decide,
design,
aim,
determine,
propose,
resolve,
think to,
contemplate,
aspire,
work towards,
meditate,
make up your mind,
commit yourself,
have a mind to,
set your sights on
in the sense of ruminate
Definition
to meditate or ponder
I had time to ruminate as I drove along.
Synonyms
ponder,
think,
consider,
reflect,
contemplate,
deliberate,
muse,
brood,
meditate,
mull over things,
chew over things,
cogitate,
rack your brains,
turn over in your mind
in the sense of scheme
Synonyms
plan,
design,
project,
imagine,
frame,
work out,
devise,
contrive,
lay plans
Additional synonyms
in the sense of think
Definition
to engage in conscious thought
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to think.