meditate

verb

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med·i·tate | \ ˈme-də-ˌtāt

meditated; meditating

Definition of meditate

intransitive verb

1 : to engage in contemplation or reflection He meditated long and hard before announcing his decision.

2 : to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one's breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness

transitive verb

1 : to focus one's thoughts on : reflect on or ponder over He was meditating his past achievements.

2 : to plan or project in the mind : intend, purpose He was meditating revenge.

Other Words from meditate Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing meditate Learn More About meditate

Choose the Right Synonym for meditate

ponder, meditate, muse, ruminate mean to consider or examine attentively or deliberately. ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter. pondered the course of action meditate implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something so as to understand it deeply. meditated on the meaning of life muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance. mused upon childhood joys ruminate implies going over the same matter in one's thoughts again and again but suggests little of either purposive thinking or rapt absorption. ruminated on past disappointments

Examples of meditate in a Sentence

He meditates for an hour every morning. I've been meditating a career change for months.

Recent Examples on the Web Through his copious projects, Mr. Schulze’s music maintained a sense of timing: when to meditate, when to build, when to ease back, when to leap ahead, how to balance suspense and repose, dissonance and consonance. — Jon Pareles, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Apr. 2022 On Wednesday, two young girls, sitting on mats on the floor, covered their hands in green paint and plastered them onto sheets of paper as a volunteer tried to teach them how to meditate. — Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2022 How to meditate Start by creating a quiet and safe space free from any distractions – that means no cell phones ringing or pets barking or meowing. — Jean Chen Smith, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2021 Through his copious projects, Mr. Schulze’s music maintained a sense of timing: when to meditate, when to build, when to ease back, when to leap ahead, how to balance suspense and repose, dissonance and consonance. — Jon Pareles, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Apr. 2022 Through his copious projects, Mr. Schulze’s music maintained a sense of timing: when to meditate, when to build, when to ease back, when to leap ahead, how to balance suspense and repose, dissonance and consonance. — Jon Pareles, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2022 Investing in calming apps like CALM - that teaches you how to meditate, gives sleep stories, shows you how to focus energy into movement and more - is a great tool for shifting your focus from the worry of the day to the peacefulness of the night. — Ebony Williams, ajc, 28 Apr. 2022 Some examples include setting aside a few minutes to meditate in the morning, soaking in a hot bath in the evening, or giving yourself a mental break during the day. — Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022 The couple busked before performing in Southern California wineries, and a stopover to meditate with monks in Burgundy further cemented Dave’s appreciation for a shared meal over a humble bottle. — Sunset Magazine, 25 Apr. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'meditate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.