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# meditate

verb (meditate, meditates, meditated, meditating)

«meditate» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To meditate is to sit quietly and focus your mind, often on your breathing, to feel calm and peaceful. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meditate/#m1)
2. (church, religion) To meditate is to think deeply and prayerfully about God or a holy text; Buddhists, Hindus and Christians all meditate in their own ways. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meditate/#m2)
3. (formal) To meditate on something is to think about it seriously for a long time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meditate/#m3)

### In the lessons

In PSHE and well-being lessons, children meditate or do «mindfulness» to calm worries and anger. In RE, pupils learn Buddhist meditation and Christian prayerful reading of the Psalms. Phrases: «meditate on», «meditate for ten minutes», «guided meditation».

### Examples

- We meditate for five minutes after lunch to calm down. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meditate/#x1)
- The monk meditated in silence for hours. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meditate/#x2)
- The psalm says to meditate on God's law day and night. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meditate/#x3)
- When I feel angry, I meditate and count my breaths. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meditate/#x4)
- Buddhists meditate to train their minds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meditate/#x5)
- She meditated on what her grandmother had said. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meditate/#x6)
- He sat down on the shore and meditated. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meditate/#x7)

### Note

Regular verb: meditated, meditating. Noun «meditation». Trap: do not confuse with «medicate» (give medicine) or «mediate» (help two sides agree). Meditating is not sleeping; you stay awake and calm.

## In Jewish tradition

The word is used for Isaac going out into the field at evening. Some say it means he walked and talked quietly, or prayed. In the Psalms it means to think deeply and quietly about God's word, laws and works.

**Interpretation.** The rabbis said Isaac began the afternoon prayer (Minchah) here. This is why Jews pray Minchah in the afternoon. The Psalms are read as teaching that thinking about the Torah day and night is a way of serving God.

### Examples

- And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide; and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming. (Torah GEN.24.63, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/meditate/#x1)
- I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways. (Writings PSA.119.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/meditate/#x2)
- Mine eyes forestalled the night-watches, that I might meditate in Thy word. (Writings PSA.119.148, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/meditate/#x3)
- I will meditate also upon all Thy work, and muse on Thy doings.' (Writings PSA.77.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/meditate/#x4)

### Note

Regular verb: meditated, meditating. Noun «meditation». Trap: do not confuse with «medicate» (give medicine) or «mediate» (help two sides agree). Meditating is not sleeping; you stay awake and calm.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «meditate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meditate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«meditate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/meditate.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «meditate» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/meditate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«meditate» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/meditate.html) on Mova free.