premeditate

[pri-med-i-teyt]

verb (used with object)

premeditated, premeditating 

1. to meditate, consider, or plan beforehand.

   to premeditate a murder.

premeditate

/ prɪˈmɛdɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. to plan or consider (something, such as a violent crime) beforehand

Other Word Forms

• premeditative adjective
• premeditator noun
• premeditatedly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of premeditate¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin praemeditātus, past participle of praemeditārī “to contemplate in advance”; pre-, meditate

Synonym Study

See deliberate.

Example Sentences

“I killed Robert F. Kennedy willfully, premeditatedly, and with 20 years of malice aforethought,” he told the court, later explaining it was a reference to the 1948 birth of Israel.

From Los Angeles Times

Sentencing the boy, Judge Rai told him his actions had been "extensively planned" and were "clearly premeditated".

From BBC

Pellegrino said he testified in court Wednesday and the pair were now facing more serious charges of premeditated attempted homicide.

From Los Angeles Times

Mosquera made a plan to dispose of the remains after the "calculated" and "premeditated" killings by throwing the suitcases off Clifton Suspension Bridge, the prosecution said.

From BBC

Prosecutors have since charged Sepulveda with two counts of premeditated attempted murder against a peace officer.

From Los Angeles Times