meditate

/ˌmɛdəˈteɪt/

/ˈmɛdɪteɪt/

Other forms: meditated; meditating; meditates

When you meditate, you silently calm or focus your mind for relaxation or spiritual reasons. People who meditate regularly can put a stop to racing thoughts, making them less distracted.

When you meditate, you focus on your breathing while sitting calmly. Some people mediate to reduce stress, while others see it as part of their spiritual practice. Meditate can also be used to describe any deep thinking you do, like when you meditate on what to say to a friend who is feeling sad lately. The Latin word for "ponder," meditari, is the root of meditate.

Definitions of meditate

1. verb

   reflect deeply on a subject
   synonyms: chew over, contemplate, excogitate, mull, mull over, muse, ponder, reflect, ruminate, speculate, think over

   types:

   premeditate

   think or reflect beforehand or in advance

   theologise, theologize

   make theoretical speculations about theology or discuss theological subjects

   introspect

   reflect on one's own thoughts and feelings

   bethink

   consider or ponder something carefully

   cogitate

   consider carefully and deeply; reflect upon; turn over in one's mind

   question, wonder

   place in doubt or express doubtful speculation

   puzzle

   be uncertain about; think about without fully understanding or being able to decide

   consider, study

   give careful consideration to

   factor, factor in, factor out

   consider as relevant when making a decision

   compare, equate, liken

   consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous

   scruple

   have doubts about

   type of:

   cerebrate, cogitate, think

   use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments
2. verb

   think intently and at length, as for spiritual purposes
   “He is meditating in his study”

   synonyms: contemplate, study

   type of:

   cerebrate, cogitate, think

   use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments