MeditateTo focus the mind in silence for reflection or relaxation. usually means to think quietly and deeplyWith great intensity or to a great extent., especially for spiritualRelating to religion, inner life, or the soul. or calming purposes. It can also mean to think carefully about a subject.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈmɛdɪˌteɪt/
Easy pronunciation: MED-i-tate (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: MED.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Meditate Meaning
to focus the mind in a quiet, deep way
Part of speech: verb
Definition: think intently and at length, often for spiritual or calming purposes
Example: She meditates for 20 minutes every morning before work.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- contemplate — Works well when the meaning is deep, focused thinking.
- study — Can fit in some formal or spiritual contexts, but is broader and less exact.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Meditate
Meaning 2
to think carefully about something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: reflect deeply on a subject
Example: He meditated on what his next career move should be.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- chew over — Natural for informal careful thinking.
- contemplate — A strong match for deep thought.
- excogitate — A formal or uncommon word for thinking something through.
- mull — Common in the phrase 'mull over'.
- mull over — A natural synonym for considering something carefully.
- muse — Often means thoughtful or slightly dreamy reflection.
- ponder — A close match for thinking about something seriously.
- reflect — A good general synonym for thoughtful consideration.
- ruminate — Fits repeated, deep thinking, often at length.
- speculate — Only works when the sense is thinking about possibilities, not quiet reflection in general.
- think over — A natural everyday phrase for careful consideration.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Meditate Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- contemplate
- ponder
- reflect
- mull over
- think over
to think carefully about a subject
- chew over
- excogitate
- mull
- muse
- ruminate
- speculate
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use meditate to mean 'think deeply' in general, but it is most strongly associated with calm, focused reflection or spiritual practice.
- It is not the same as 'meddle' or 'mediate'.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does meditate mean?
Meditate means to think quietly and deeply, often for spiritual or calming reasons. It can also mean to reflect carefully on a subject.
What are common synonyms for meditate?
Common synonyms include contemplate, ponder, reflect, mull over, and think over, depending on the sense.
Is meditate the same as think?
Not exactly. Meditate suggests deeper, slower, and more focused thinking than the general verb think.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.