cognitive
adjective
cog·ni·tive
ˈkäg-nə-tiv 
1
: of, relating to, being, or involving conscious intellectual activity (such as thinking, reasoning, or remembering)
cognitive impairment
cognitive tests
2
philosophy
: based on or capable of being reduced to empirical factual knowledge
cognitively
adverb
Examples of cognitive in a Sentence
The best toys for toddlers engage their interests while developing their fine motor, gross motor, cognitive, and social skills.
—
Ashley Ziegler and Katrina Cossey, Parents, 12 Nov. 2024
Homo sapiens' survival is founded in their filling an evolutionary niche referred to as the cognitive niche.
—Daniel Grassam, Skeptical Inquirer, July/August 2001
Researchers are debating whether heading balls can dent the cognitive skills of young soccer players for life.
—Lisa McLaughlin, Time, 5 June 2000
Ashley Ziegler and Katrina Cossey, Parents, 12 Nov. 2024
Homo sapiens' survival is founded in their filling an evolutionary niche referred to as the cognitive niche.
—Daniel Grassam, Skeptical Inquirer, July/August 2001
Researchers are debating whether heading balls can dent the cognitive skills of young soccer players for life.
—Lisa McLaughlin, Time, 5 June 2000
Recent Examples on the Web
Even simple changes to your daily routine, like taking a new route to the office or working from a different location, can enhance your cognitive flexibility by forcing your brain to change its thought patterns.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
As those neurons die, patients can develop a range of disabling symptoms, including tremor, rigidity, fatigue, difficulty walking and cognitive problems.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 17 Apr. 2025
Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have systematically hacked our brains for quick hits of dopamine, conditioning young people for instant gratification and eroding their patience for challenging cognitive tasks.
—Catherine Goetze, Time, 17 Apr. 2025
This compound helps protect the brain, and lower levels may increase vulnerability to behavioral and cognitive issues.
—Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cognitive
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Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
As those neurons die, patients can develop a range of disabling symptoms, including tremor, rigidity, fatigue, difficulty walking and cognitive problems.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 17 Apr. 2025
Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have systematically hacked our brains for quick hits of dopamine, conditioning young people for instant gratification and eroding their patience for challenging cognitive tasks.
—Catherine Goetze, Time, 17 Apr. 2025
This compound helps protect the brain, and lower levels may increase vulnerability to behavioral and cognitive issues.
—Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cognitive
Cite this Entry
“Cognitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cognitive. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cognitive
adjective
cog·ni·tive
ˈkäg-nət-iv
: of, relating to, or being conscious mental activities (as thinking, reasoning, remembering, imagining, learning words, and using language)
Medical Definition
cognitive
adjective
cog·ni·tive
ˈkäg-nət-iv
: of, relating to, or being conscious intellectual activity (as thinking, reasoning, remembering, imagining, or learning words)
the cognitive elements of perception—C. H. Hamburg
C. H. Hamburg
cognitively
adverb
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