Meditate

v.calm, thoughtfuleveryday

What it means

To focus attention quietly as a practice of awareness, calm, or reflection.

Reach for it when describing deliberate contemplative practice without promising a particular health result

Before the house wakes, he likes to meditate beside the open window.

everyday
sit quietly
when the outward activity should be described without assumptions
not when Quiet sitting may be rest, waiting, or prayer rather than meditation.
warm
center oneself
when regaining steady attention is the intended effect
not when Center oneself is vague and can promise an emotional change that is not verified.
warm
pray
when communication with or devotion toward a deity is the actual practice
not when Prayer and meditation overlap in some traditions but are not interchangeable.
warm
reflect
when carefully considering an experience or idea is central
not when Reflection can be analytical and does not require a meditative practice.
professional
practice mindfulness
when present-moment awareness is the named method
not when Mindfulness is one family of practices and not every form of meditation.
formal
contemplate
when sustained thought rests on one subject
not when Contemplation may involve active reasoning rather than quiet awareness.
literary
be still
when quiet presence matters more than a formal technique
not when Stillness alone does not establish meditation and may be physically inaccessible.
literary
ponder
when thinking deeply about a question is the activity
not when Pondering is discursive thought and may move away from present awareness.

meditate daily
She began to meditate daily for a few quiet minutes.
meditate on
The group will meditate on compassion before discussing the case.
learn to meditate
A short guided session helped beginners learn to meditate without strain.

Meditation practices differ across secular and religious traditions; this entry does not claim medical benefits.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.