# meditate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈmɛ.dɪˌteɪt/ · frequency rank #20,705

## Definitions
1. To contemplate; to keep the mind fixed upon something; to study.
2. To sit or lie down and come to a deep rest while still remaining conscious.
3. To consider; to reflect on.

## Etymology
First attested in 1560; borrowed from Latin meditātus, perfect active participle of meditor (“to think or reflect upon, consider, design, purpose, intend”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), morphologically as if frequentative of medeor (“to heal, to cure, to remedy”); in sense and in form near to Ancient Greek μελετάω (meletáō, “to care for, attend to, study, practise, etc.”). Participial usage up until Early Modern English.

## Easily confused with
- **meditative** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meditate-vs-meditative)
- **mediate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mediate-vs-meditate)
- **medicare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/medicare-vs-meditate)

## Common misspellings (11)
`emditate`, `mdeitate`, `medditate`, `mediatte`, `meditaet`, `meditatte`, `medittae`, `medittate`, `medtiate`, `meidtate`, `mmeditate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/meditate