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

That feeling can present in many ways — rumination, a knot in your throat or your chest, an unease in your stomach, the tensing of muscles.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 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

Notably, however, Therrien’s digital rumination on the hazards embedded within unquestioning cultures preceded his fellow artist’s by more than a decade.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

It was only when her sister heard it and commented on the lyrics that she realised it was really a rumination on death.

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2025

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

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green

Related Words

• meditation
• reflection