ruminate

verb

ru·mi·nate ˈrü-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce ruminate (audio)

ruminated; ruminating

transitive verb

: to go over in the mind repeatedly and often casually or slowly

: to chew repeatedly for an extended period

intransitive verb

: to chew again what has been chewed slightly and swallowed : chew the cud

: to engage in contemplation : reflect

rumination

ˌrü-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce ruminate (audio)

noun

ruminative

ˈrü-mə-ˌnā-tiv How to pronounce ruminate (audio)

adjective

ruminatively adverb

ruminator

ˈrü-mə-ˌnā-tər How to pronounce ruminate (audio)

noun

Did you know?

When you ruminate, you chew something over, either literally or figuratively. Literal rumination may seem a little gross to humans, but to cows, chewing your cud (that's partially digested food brought up from the stomach for another chew) is just a natural part of life. Figurative ruminating is much more palatable to humans; that kind of deep, meditative thought is often deemed quite a worthy activity. The verb ruminate has described metaphorical chewing over since the early 1500s and actual chewing since later that same century. Our English word derives from and shares the meanings of the Latin ruminari, which in turn derives from rumen, the Latin name for the first stomach compartment of ruminant animals (that is, creatures like cows that chew their cud).

Example Sentences

The question got us ruminating on the real value of wealth. He ruminated over the implications of their decision.

Recent Examples on the Web Some can ruminate for a long time without resolving a dilemma.

Nuala Walsh, Forbes, 17 June 2022 As always when Apple announces new products, there is much to ruminate over from an accessibility point of view.

Steven Aquino, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2021 This brain activation may explain why dumpees will often ruminate about their exes and try to find ways to reinstate contact against all odds.

Suzy Katz, SELF, 12 May 2022 Nobody is moved to ruminate on the rights and wrongs of the situation.

The New Yorker, 6 May 2022 Snyder, asked to ruminate on some specifics about what went wrong, had an embarrassment of options to choose from.

Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 Mar. 2022 Rather than ruminate on defeat, Sundquist instead cultivated a laser focus on the positive rewards, a recurring theme in his story.

Bruce Tulgan, Forbes, 12 Apr. 2022 The show is spread out over the campus’s two galleries and includes a salon-style hang of paintings, drawings and found photographic images that ruminate on her family’s migration from Cali, Colombia, to Cali — as in: SoCal.

Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2022 Being alone gives me time to ruminate and talk to myself and helps my self-awareness.

Heran Mamo, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2022 See More

单词	ruminates
释义	ruminate verb ru·mi·nate ˈrü-mə-ˌnāt ruminated; ruminating transitive verb 1 : to go over in the mind repeatedly and often casually or slowly 2 : to chew repeatedly for an extended period intransitive verb 1 : to chew again what has been chewed slightly and swallowed : chew the cud 2 : to engage in contemplation : reflect rumination ˌrü-mə-ˈnā-shən noun ruminative ˈrü-mə-ˌnā-tiv adjective ruminatively adverb ruminator ˈrü-mə-ˌnā-tər noun Did you know? When you ruminate, you chew something over, either literally or figuratively. Literal rumination may seem a little gross to humans, but to cows, chewing your cud (that's partially digested food brought up from the stomach for another chew) is just a natural part of life. Figurative ruminating is much more palatable to humans; that kind of deep, meditative thought is often deemed quite a worthy activity. The verb ruminate has described metaphorical chewing over since the early 1500s and actual chewing since later that same century. Our English word derives from and shares the meanings of the Latin ruminari, which in turn derives from rumen, the Latin name for the first stomach compartment of ruminant animals (that is, creatures like cows that chew their cud). Synonyms chew over cogitate consider contemplate debate deliberate entertain eye kick around meditate mull (over) perpend ponder pore (over) question revolve study think (about or over) turn weigh wrestle (with) See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The question got us ruminating on the real value of wealth. He ruminated over the implications of their decision. Recent Examples on the Web Some can ruminate for a long time without resolving a dilemma. Nuala Walsh, Forbes, 17 June 2022 As always when Apple announces new products, there is much to ruminate over from an accessibility point of view. Steven Aquino, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2021 This brain activation may explain why dumpees will often ruminate about their exes and try to find ways to reinstate contact against all odds. Suzy Katz, SELF, 12 May 2022 Nobody is moved to ruminate on the rights and wrongs of the situation. The New Yorker, 6 May 2022 Snyder, asked to ruminate on some specifics about what went wrong, had an embarrassment of options to choose from. Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 Mar. 2022 Rather than ruminate on defeat, Sundquist instead cultivated a laser focus on the positive rewards, a recurring theme in his story. Bruce Tulgan, Forbes, 12 Apr. 2022 The show is spread out over the campus’s two galleries and includes a salon-style hang of paintings, drawings and found photographic images that ruminate on her family’s migration from Cali, Colombia, to Cali — as in: SoCal. Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2022 Being alone gives me time to ruminate and talk to myself and helps my self-awareness. Heran Mamo, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Latin ruminatus, past participle of ruminari to chew the cud, muse upon, from rumin-, rumen rumen; perhaps akin to Sanskrit romantha act of chewing the cud First Known Use 1533, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Kids Definition ruminate verb ru·mi·nate ˈrü-mə-ˌnāt ruminated; ruminating : to think carefully and deeply : meditate Medical Definition ruminate intransitive verb ru·mi·nate ˈrü-mə-ˌnāt ruminated; ruminating 1 : to chew again what has been chewed slightly and swallowed : chew the cud 2 : to engage in contemplation ruminates verb present tense third-person singular of ruminate as in ponders to give serious and careful thought to the minister hoped that the congregation would spend the remainder of the week ruminating the message of his sermon Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance ponders contemplates entertains considers debates weighs explores studies questions meditates cogitates deliberates eyes analyzes reviews revolves looks at perpends chews on reminisces chews over turns digests opines mulls (over) kicks around wrestles (with) thinks (about or over) beats one's brains out (about) concludes pores (over) cudgels one's brains (about) reasons believes conceives absorbs assimilates muses (upon) second-guesses reflects (on or upon) speculates (about) broods (about or over) obsesses (about or over) frets (about or over) fixates (on or upon) dwells (on or upon) drinks (in) Antonyms & Near Antonyms ignores disregards overlooks dismisses rejects slights pooh-poohs poohs See More
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ruminate

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

Medical Definition

intransitive verb

verb