English Dictionary

Definition of “ruminate

ruminate (ˈruːmɪˌneɪtPronunciation for ruminate

Definitions

verb

  1. (of ruminants) to chew (the cud)
  2.  when intr, often foll by upon, on, etc to meditate or ponder (upon)

Alternative Forms

ˌrumiˈnation noun ˈruminative adjective ˈruminatively adverb ˈrumiˌnator noun

Word Origin

C16: from Latin rūmināre to chew the cud, from rumen

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= ponder, think, consider, reflect, contemplate, deliberate, muse, brood, meditate, mull over things chew over things cogitate, rack your brains turn over in your mind

Usage examples

  • He was happy to have some spare time to ruminate on the case.
    Penn, John, Widow's End (1993)
  • Down the pub with a beer afterwards the full force of it will hit you as you ruminate over your pork scratchings Sleep well, kids.
    Megastar (2004)
  • In a careful manner, two essays (by Tony Birch and Gail Jones) ruminate on the stolen generations and the word ``sorry'.
    Courier, Sunday Mail (2005)
  • I scoff down as many as I can and ruminate over how similar the words `lunch" and `launch" sound.
    Independent (1998)
  • Obsessional personalities commonly ruminate excessively about death alongside such questions as the meaning of life.
    Knowles, Jane, Know Your Own Mind (1991)

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