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cogitate

verb
cog·​i·​tate | \ ˈkä-jə-ˌtāt How to pronounce cogitate (audio) \
cogitated; cogitating

Definition of cogitate

transitive verb

: to ponder or meditate on usually intently cogitating the possible consequences of my decision

intransitive verb

: to meditate deeply or intently cogitating on her career plans cogitated on what would be the right thing to do
Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about cogitate

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Choose the Right Synonym for cogitate

think, cogitate, reflect, reason, speculate, deliberate mean to use one's powers of conception, judgment, or inference. think is general and may apply to any mental activity, but used alone often suggests attainment of clear ideas or conclusions. teaches students how to think cogitate implies deep or intent thinking. cogitated on the mysteries of nature reflect suggests unhurried consideration of something recalled to the mind. reflecting on fifty years of married life reason stresses consecutive logical thinking. able to reason brilliantly in debate speculate implies reasoning about things theoretical or problematic. speculated on the fate of the lost explorers deliberate suggests slow or careful reasoning before forming an opinion or reaching a conclusion or decision. the jury deliberated for five hours

Examples of cogitate in a Sentence

I was cogitating about my chances of failing. by the time he finishes cogitating what to do with his life, it'll be almost over

Recent Examples on the Web

 Jermaine uncovers America's obsession with capitalism and its cogitating impact on his everyday decision making, as well as those around him. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, "J. Cole Focuses On Society's Ills in Trippy New 'ATM' Video," 20 Apr. 2018 Penrose believes that Hawking's condition has forced him to work more creatively, to take imaginative leaps where someone with a less uncertain future might want to cogitate a little longer. — Jerry Adler, Newsweek, "Stephen Hawking, Master of the Universe: Our 1988 Cover Story on the Legendary Physicist," 14 Mar. 2018 But Long, one of the revelers, (Ensemble regular James Rankin, always terrific) has been cogitating, too -- about their lot in life. — Andrea Simakis, cleveland.com, "Dobama Theatre's family show 'Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars' is slow going for all ages (review)," 9 Dec. 2017 But their arguments sustain this 95-minute, intermissionless play and send us away cogitating. — By Lawrence Toppman, charlotteobserver, "Megachurch pastor in ‘The Christians’ provokes this unanswerable question," 21 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cogitate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of cogitate

1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

History and Etymology for cogitate

Latin cogitatus, past participle of cogitare to think, think about, from co- + agitare to drive, agitate

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More Definitions for cogitate

cogitate

verb
How to pronounce cogitate (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of cogitate

formal : to think carefully and seriously about something

See the full definition for cogitate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cogitate

verb
cog·​i·​tate | \ ˈkä-jə-ˌtāt How to pronounce cogitate (audio) \
cogitated; cogitating

Kids Definition of cogitate

: to think over : ponder The book left her cogitating about the author's life.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cogitate

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with cogitate

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cogitate

Spanish Central: Translation of cogitate

Nglish: Translation of cogitate for Spanish Speakers

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