meditative

American

[med-i-tey-tiv] / ˈmɛd ɪˌteɪ tɪv /

adjective

given to, characterized by, or indicative of meditation; contemplative.

Synonyms:

thoughtful

Related Words

See pensive.

Other Word Forms

meditatively adverb
meditativeness noun
nonmeditative adjective
nonmeditatively adverb
nonmeditativeness noun
unmeditative adjective
unmeditatively adverb

Etymology

Origin of meditative

From the Late Latin word meditātīvus, dating back to 1605–15. See meditate, -ive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"It's almost meditative doing something creative with my hands."

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

And this sense of motion—of not quite knowing where to look, or where to pause—had a gradual, meditative effect.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Michelle Lopez’s video “Pandemonium” began life as a live performance inside a planetarium, and the film is a meditative look at man-made disasters.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

The seminar included a performance of the Korean composer’s 1988 “Contemplation,” for two violas, played with gripping meditative intensity by recent Colburn graduate, Lan Cao, and current conservatory student, Ran Tae.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

So he walked and walked for miles every day, lost in his dreams, or dwelling in a meditative state.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023