meditation

noun

med·​i·​ta·​tion ˌme-də-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce meditation (audio)
Synonyms of meditationnext
1
: a discourse intended to express its author's reflections or to guide others in contemplation
2
: the act or process of meditating
… the meditation out of which this novel has come.—Granville Hicks

Synonyms of meditation

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Examples of meditation in a Sentence

She spent the morning in meditation. Daily meditation helps clear his mind.
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And finally, there’s poor Leighton Vance — or at least a version of Leighton Vance who’s not the CEO of Velocity Tech but the leader of a small meditation group. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 At the Miraval Slumber Party, guests explore their sleep patterns and dreams, then are guided through acupressure exercises, stretching, and meditations with singing bowls. — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026 Toward the end of the meditation, Whitmore asked participants to envision an animal and invited them to receive its message. — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 As befits the title, Solnit offers meandering meditations on exploration, art, and family history. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for meditation

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of meditation was in the 13th century

Rhymes for meditation

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Browse Nearby Words

meditatingly
meditation
meditative
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Cite this Entry

“Meditation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meditation. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

meditation

noun
med·​i·​ta·​tion ˌmed-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce meditation (audio)
: the act or an instance of meditating

More from Merriam-Webster on meditation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about meditation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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