ruminate
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
-
to chew again or over and over.
-
to meditate on; ponder.
verb
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(of ruminants) to chew (the cud)
-
to meditate or ponder (upon)
Usage
What does ruminate mean? To ruminate is to carefully think something over, ponder it, or meditate on it.It can also mean to chew over and over again, as is done by ruminant animals, like cows.In psychology, the term means to obsessively repeat thoughts or excessively think about problems.In all cases, the process of ruminating is called rumination.Example: After ruminating about it for months, I have decided to pursue a new career.
Other Word Forms
- nonruminating adjective
- nonruminatingly adverb
- nonruminative adjective
- ruminatingly adverb
- rumination noun
- ruminative adjective
- ruminatively adverb
- ruminator noun
- unruminated adjective
- unruminating adjective
- unruminatingly adverb
- unruminative adjective
Etymology
Origin of ruminate
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin rūminātus (past participle of rūminārī, rūmināre “to ruminate”), equivalent to rūmin- (stem of rūmen “throat, gullet”; rumen ) + -ātus past participle suffix ( -ate 1 )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s hard to believe Mr. Smith hasn’t ruminated more seriously on what he might have done differently, and maybe he’ll share that someday in a forum other than a House interrogation.
From this place of old age and treatable illness, Julian ruminates on the fallible nature of memory and its role in shaping our identities.
Jay Kelly is plagued with regret, but I sense that you’re not one to ruminate over the past.
From Los Angeles Times
She also ruminates on such questions as what it is to be human and what it means to die.
She was relentless with her self-criticism, always finding some minor gaffe to ruminate on.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
