as in to contemplate
to give serious and careful thought to
by the time he finishes cogitating what to do with his life, it'll be almost over
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Recent Examples of cogitate
Instead of accelerating the singular, the company’s leadership is doing like Isaacson and cogitating in logic.
—
Big Think, 3 Nov. 2025
What made those songs work, and these, is the sound of Byrne’s mind cogitating inside them.
—Will Hermes, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
This represents the leap from machines that can mimic human outputs to systems that genuinely cogitate—plotting, analyzing, and problem-solving with remarkable acuity.
—Arafat Kabir, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Yet the evidence for cogitating pond scum grows daily.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024
With the eruptions and disruptions of digital mass culture as its Ferrari-level engine, often represented by the roaring drama of sport, Pfeiffer’s art cogitates on power as an ongoing campaign waged between the individual and the crowd.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
While Wall Street and Private Equity leaders have the time to leisurely cogitate the long view, business leaders (CEO’s, CMO’s, etc) have to make commitments today with real dollars based on their best guesses about the state of the consumer next fall and spring.
—Greg Petro, Forbes, 22 Apr. 2022
As his characters cogitate and self-medicate, scheme and philosophize, his subject is less the content of their thoughts than the mind contemplating itself.
—Washington Post, 11 June 2021
Jermaine uncovers America's obsession with capitalism and its cogitating impact on his everyday decision making, as well as those around him.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 20 Apr. 2018
Big Think, 3 Nov. 2025
What made those songs work, and these, is the sound of Byrne’s mind cogitating inside them.
—Will Hermes, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
This represents the leap from machines that can mimic human outputs to systems that genuinely cogitate—plotting, analyzing, and problem-solving with remarkable acuity.
—Arafat Kabir, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Yet the evidence for cogitating pond scum grows daily.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024
With the eruptions and disruptions of digital mass culture as its Ferrari-level engine, often represented by the roaring drama of sport, Pfeiffer’s art cogitates on power as an ongoing campaign waged between the individual and the crowd.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
While Wall Street and Private Equity leaders have the time to leisurely cogitate the long view, business leaders (CEO’s, CMO’s, etc) have to make commitments today with real dollars based on their best guesses about the state of the consumer next fall and spring.
—Greg Petro, Forbes, 22 Apr. 2022
As his characters cogitate and self-medicate, scheme and philosophize, his subject is less the content of their thoughts than the mind contemplating itself.
—Washington Post, 11 June 2021
Jermaine uncovers America's obsession with capitalism and its cogitating impact on his everyday decision making, as well as those around him.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 20 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cogitate
Verb
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Collecting vinyl, clubbing at Berghain, contemplating polyamory—this is cool.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
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Proponents of such laws cite potential conflicts of interest between public interests and private ones, particularly when lawmakers or officials are contemplating a move from one sphere to the other.—
Paul Egan,
Freep.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At least one likely outcome would’ve been apparent, but pondering that likelihood wasn’t Pretti’s responsibility.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Its lessons are ones Republicans should ponder — and fast.—
Stephen Mihm,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
View Outside’s longstanding literary storytelling tradition comes to life in audio with features that will both entertain and inform listeners.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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To strengthen the economy, Texas must rein in local spending, increase transparency, expand audits of cities, counties, and universities, and consider local spending caps so taxpayers aren’t saddled with unsustainable obligations.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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Though she initially was considered missing, the urgency to quickly find Guthrie pulsed through the first days of media coverage because of her heart condition.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Policymakers are interested too, debating whether public policy and taxpayer money should be used to propel off-site construction from niche application to a regular, if not dominant, feature of the industry.—
Ben Christopher,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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While many countries still debate how electric air travel should work, China is already laying the foundation.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But there were always more pressing things to do than attend lectures or study rare manuscripts in the Radcliffe Camera, the beautiful circular reading room that’s the centerpiece of the Bodleian Library.—
Richard Godwin,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
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The Opening Ceremony for the Milan Olympics is not until Friday, but for seasonal fans wanting to study up on who’s going for gold, hours of documentary programing in skiing, ice dancing and other sports are now available as streamers try to take a piece of the winter sports action from NBC.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The first inkling of the government questioning the DHS account came from the US Department of Justice.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
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The planned 90,000-square-foot project would represent the most significant change to the White House grounds in decades and is advancing even as it is challenged in court and questioned on Capitol Hill.—
Dan Diamond,
Washington Post,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cogitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cogitate. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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