cogitate

verb

cog·​i·​tate ˈkä-jə-ˌtāt How to pronounce cogitate (audio)
cogitated; cogitating
Synonyms of cogitatenext

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

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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
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.
Yet the evidence for cogitating pond scum grows daily. — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024 With the eruptions and disruptions of digital mass culture as its Ferrari-level engine, often represented by the roaring drama of sport, Pfeiffer’s art cogitates on power as an ongoing campaign waged between the individual and the crowd. — Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of cogitate was in 1582

Rhymes for cogitate

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Browse Nearby Words

cogitabund
cogitate
cogitation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cogitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cogitate. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

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Kids Definition

cogitate

verb
cog·​i·​tate ˈkäj-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce cogitate (audio)
cogitated; cogitating
: to think over : ponder
cogitation
ˌkäj-ə-ˈtā-shən
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on cogitate

Nglish: Translation of cogitate for Spanish Speakers

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