How to pronounce meditate
Say it like MED-uh-tayt. Meditate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce meditate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MED
- uh
- tayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Meditate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MEDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- taytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of meditate
American and British speakers say meditate in essentially the same way: /ˈmɛdəˌteɪt/ in the US and /ˈmɛdəˌteɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: MED-uh-tayt.
What does meditate mean?
- To contemplate; to keep the mind fixed upon something; to study.
- To sit or lie down and come to a deep rest while still remaining conscious.
- To consider; to reflect on.
Where does meditate come from?
First attested in 1560; borrowed from Latin meditātus, perfect active participle of meditor (“to think or reflect upon, consider, design, purpose, intend”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), morphologicall
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying meditate
How do you pronounce meditate?
Say MED-uh-tayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɛdəˌteɪt/. In British English it is /ˈmɛdəˌteɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in meditate?
Meditate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MED). Broken into parts: MED · uh · tayt.
Do Americans and Brits say meditate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɛdəˌteɪt/ and the British form is /ˈmɛdəˌteɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.