ruminate

American  

[roo-muh-neyt] / ˈru məˌneɪt /

verb (used without object)

ruminated, ruminating

1. to meditate or muse; ponder.

   Synonyms:

   reflect, think

2. Psychology. to obsessively revisit the same thought or theme over and over again.

3. to chew the cud, as a ruminant.

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verb (used with object)

ruminated, ruminating

1. to chew again or over and over.

2. to meditate on; ponder.

ruminate British  

/ ˈruːmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. (of ruminants) to chew (the cud)

2. to meditate or ponder (upon)

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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”; see rumen) + -ātus past participle suffix ( see -ate ¹)

Explanation

When you ruminate, it means you are thinking very deeply about something. You're likely to be so lost in thought that you stare off into space and don't hear people when they call your name. Another meaning of ruminate is to "chew the cud," which can mean "to turn it over and over in your mind." Or, if you're a cow, to turn food over and over in your stomachs in order to digest it. Whether you're a human or a cow, if you ruminate, it will take a LONG time.

Example Sentences

“I try not to ruminate on the past but look to the future,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

According to later biographical accounts, it was during this period that Woods began to ruminate on how rail transportation might be improved—a pursuit that would come to define his life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

So does Althouse, who has a deep, sultry radio-announcer voice and often pauses momentarily to ruminate deeply before answering questions.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2025

Now that it looks like all their sweat and stress could amount to nothing, Carmy and Syd separately ruminate on the meaning of all those months of devotion and anxiety.

From Salon • Jun. 26, 2025

I saved it for later, to ruminate over and over that I had made her laugh, that I could make her laugh.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• brainstorm
• brood
• meditate
• ponder