regurgitate

[ri-gur-ji-teyt]

verb (used without object)

regurgitated, regurgitating 

1. to surge or rush back, as liquids, gases, undigested food, etc.

verb (used with object)

regurgitated, regurgitating 

1. to cause to surge or rush back; vomit.

2. to give back or repeat, especially something not fully understood or assimilated.

   to regurgitate the teacher's lectures on the exam.

regurgitate

/ rɪˈɡɜːdʒɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. to vomit forth (partially digested food)

2. (of some birds and certain other animals) to bring back to the mouth (undigested or partly digested food with which to feed the young)

3. (intr) to be cast up or out, esp from the mouth

4. (intr) med (of blood) to flow backwards, in a direction opposite to the normal one, esp through a defective heart valve

Other Word Forms

• regurgitant noun
• unregurgitated adjective
• regurgitation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of regurgitate¹

1645–55; < Medieval Latin regurgitātus (past participle of regurgitāre ), equivalent to re- re- + gurgit-, stem of gurges whirlpool, flood, stream + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of regurgitate¹

C17: from Medieval Latin regurgitāre , from _re- + gurgitāre to flood, from Latin gurges gulf, whirlpool

Example Sentences

Robinson also said the report largely regurgitated facts already in the public domain, citing the controversy of then-Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill at the funeral of Bobby Storey.

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Does being faithful mean regurgitating an author’s words?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

City dwellers face a particularly nasty flooding threat from rainfall: Overwhelmed stormwater systems can regurgitate raw sewage.

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If “Christy” is Sweeney’s message through art, it may as well be the cinematic equivalent of “Dogs Playing Poker,” an image so often remixed and regurgitated that it’s devoid of any compelling meaning.

Read more on Salon

Large language models like ChatGPT can regurgitate information from any random corner of the internet.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal