rumination

American  

[roo-muh-ney-shuhn] / ˌru məˈneɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of pondering or musing on something.

   Understanding little of what was happening, I was semiconsciously storing away experiences, impressions, and ideas for later rumination.

2. something written or spoken that expresses such pondering or musing.

   Her blog posts contain notes of spirituality, ruminations on the meaning of experience, and glimpses of her multifaceted life.

3. Psychology. excessive, repetitive thinking focused on the same, usually negative, idea or theme: characteristic of some obsessive-compulsive and anxiety disorders.

4. the act or process of chewing the cud, as cows, deer, and some other animals do.

   Rumination helps cows efficiently turn grass, corn, and other feed into nutrient-dense milk.

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Usage

What does rumination mean? Rumination is the process of carefully thinking something over, pondering it, or meditating on it. In psychology, the term refers to obsessive repetition of thoughts or excessively thinking about problems. Rumination can also refer to the process of chewing over and over again, as is done by ruminant animals, like cows. Rumination is the noun form of the verb ruminate, which can mean to think over or ponder, or to chew over and over. Example: After much rumination and soul-searching, I have decided to pursue a new career.

Other Word Forms

• nonrumination
  noun

Etymology

Origin of rumination

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin stem of rūminātiō “a chewing of the cud,” equivalent to rūmināt(us) “chewed over again” (stem of rūmināre; see ruminate ( def. )) + -iō -ion ( def. )

Explanation

If someone asks you to make a difficult decision — like what to have for dinner — it might lead to rumination, or a long period of deep thought. Use the noun rumination when there's thoughtful consideration going on. If your grandfather answers every question by saying, "Hmm. Let me think about that," he is a fan of rumination. It comes from the verb ruminate, which means "to think deeply," but also means "to chew the cud." Both words come from the Latin word ruminatus, which has the same meaning and which is rooted in rumen, or "gullet."

Example Sentences

The mind can become trapped in narrow loops of worry and rumination, or it can move outward, forming new associations and imagining multiple future possibilities.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

This masterful rumination on setting seems like an anomaly in contemporary literature.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026

Without sense, it could be a myopic rumination on climate change mixed with a treacly buddy comedy, where two opposing temperaments clash into a discordant, aggravating mess.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Yet the theme of human sacrifice persisted as a subject for deep rumination even after advances in science, industry and wealth insulated the West’s creative classes from ancient and medieval rites.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026

“Has there been an uptick in your rumination or intrusive thoughts?”

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green

Related Words

• meditation
• reflection