premeditate

verb

pre·​med·​i·​tate (ˌ)prē-ˈme-də-ˌtāt 

premeditated; premeditating; premeditates

transitive verb

: to think about and revolve in the mind beforehand

intransitive verb

: to think, consider, or deliberate beforehand

premeditator

(ˌ)prē-ˈme-də-ˌtā-tər 

noun

Examples of premeditate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Authorities say the act was premeditated and carried out in front of a crowd that included children, a factor that could carry serious sentencing implications. —Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2025

Audie was previously charged with second-degree intentional murder, not premeditated. —Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 12 Sep. 2025

The defense claims Ross' mental health had deteriorated and his actions were not premeditated, citing bizarre behavior and insomnia. —Miguel Torres, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025

That's premeditated in my mind. —Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin praemeditatus, past participle of praemeditari, from prae- + meditari to meditate

First Known Use

circa 1526, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for premeditate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

premeditate

verb

pre·​med·​i·​tate pri-ˈmed-ə-ˌtāt 

ˈprē-

: to think about and plan beforehand

premeditated murder

premeditation

pri-ˌmed-ə-ˈtā-shən

ˌprē-

noun

Legal Definition

premeditate

verb

pre·​med·​i·​tate pri-ˈme-də-ˌtāt 

premeditated; premeditating

transitive verb

: to think about or consider beforehand

must premeditate the killing and deliberate about it

—W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.

intransitive verb

: to think or consider beforehand