rumination

[ roo-muh-ney-shuhn ]

/ ˌru məˈneɪ ʃən /

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noun

the act of pondering or musing on something: Understanding little of what was happening, I was semi-consciously storing away experiences, impressions, and ideas for later rumination.

something written or spoken that expresses such pondering or musing: Her blogs contain notes of spirituality, ruminations on the meaning of experience, and glimpses of her multifaceted life.

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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Origin of rumination

First recorded in– from Latin rūminātiōn-, stem of rūminātiō “a chewing of the cud,” equivalent to rūmināt-, stem of rūmināre + -iō -ion; see ruminate

OTHER WORDS FROM rumination

non·ru·mi·na·tion, noun

Words nearby rumination

rumen, Rumford, Rumi, ruminant, ruminate, rumination, Rümker, Ruml, rummage, rummage out, rummage sale

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT RUMINATION

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.

Where does rumination come from?

The first records of rumination come from the 1500s. It derives from the Latin verb rūmināre, meaning “to chew the cud.” Rūmināre comes from the Latin rūmen, which gives us the English rumen—the first of four compartments in the stomach of ruminant animals. Such animals, like cows, eat grass, swallow it, and then regurgitate it and chew it some more. When the food is regurgitated to be chewed again, it’s called cud.

This process of chewing and rechewing is called rumination. You can see how it can be used figuratively: when you ruminate on something, you think it over. In fact, the idioms chew it over and chew the cud both refer to contemplating something for a while. Sometimes you might not be able to stop ruminating. Psychologists use the word rumination to refer to obsessively repeating a particular thought or continuing to think about something, especially a problem, over and over instead of finding a solution or moving on.

Rumination can also refer to a creative work that’s intended as a deep consideration of a particular topic or idea, as in The film was a melancholy rumination on the briefness of life. Its synonyms contemplation and meditation can also be used in this way.

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What are some other forms related to rumination?

ruminate (verb)
ruminations (plural)

What are some synonyms for rumination?

What are some words that share a root or word element with rumination?

What are some words that often get used in discussing rumination?

How is rumination used in real life?

Rumination is generally used in a neutral or positive way to refer to the process of thinking something over. When it’s used in the context of psychology, it refers to behavior that has negative effects on a person.

After much rumination, I have concluded that neither dogs nor cats are intrinsically better than the other. Ones feelings about this subject are subjective, experiential, and contextual. I hope this clears things up.

— Tsar Czar Binks, protector of the buried beans (@SleepyHead_band) April 9, 2018

The danger of dwelling – too much rumination can lead to depression and anxiety new study finds: http://t.co/BaPPauAvnh via @BBCNews

— Mental Health Fdn (@mentalhealth) October 17, 2013

This is such a remarkable story. It is both one of the most gripping wilderness tales I've ever read, and a beautiful rumination on the nature of chaos https://t.co/fWgdJsrZV1

— Mat Honan (@mat) March 22, 2019

Try using rumination!

Is rumination used correctly in the following sentence?

My insomnia is mainly caused by late-night rumination on my mistakes.

How to use rumination in a sentence

The rumination has centered around the systems and the institutions that perpetuated this treatment but, at least as I’ve found—and I’d venture many have as well—it’s also very personal.
Why Did It Take So Long to Believe Britney Spears?|Kevin Fallon|June 25, 2021|The Daily Beast
The implausible realignment of two stars after more than a decade and a half might supercharge such ruminations.
Bennifer 2.0 Got You Pining For Your Ex? Therapists Say Forget It|Belinda Luscombe|June 21, 2021|Time
In addition to garden-variety deep thoughts, his movies are also laced with ruminations on where Germany has been, and where it’s headed.
In the Noirish Modern Fairytale Undine, a Mermaid and a Man Find Happiness—for Now|Stephanie Zacharek|May 28, 2021|Time
Other studies have shown that rumination perpetuates distress and aggression caused in response to insults and threats to one’s self-esteem.
Why People Feel Like Victims - Issue 99: Universality|Mark MacNamara|May 5, 2021|Nautilus

Oftentimes, this realization itself introduces enough mental distance from the cycle of rumination to break it, and allow you to move on.
A Quiet Path Out of the Coronavirus Shadow - Issue 98: Mind|Clayton Dalton|March 31, 2021|Nautilus
How else to explain the popularity of a novel so free of plot, so obsessed with existential rumination and recondite philosophy?
American Dreams: Saul Bellow’s Masterpiece of Lamentation|Nathaniel Rich|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What is it about all the rumination, all the anxiety that makes it so hard to sort of stand up for yourself, to yourself?
A Q&A with Scott Stossel, Author of ‘My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread, and the Search for Peace of Mind’|Jesse Singal|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The images feel like a yearbook of sorts, a rumination on the decade, and on three girls growing up.
Craig McDean’s Fashion Muses: Amber Valletta, Kate Moss, and More|Isabel Wilkinson|October 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In her hands, celluloid comes off as a medium that allows for old-fashioned rumination, with some of the slowness of oil paint.
Tacita Dean’s ‘Five Americans’ Captures a Quiet Brilliance|Blake Gopnik|May 7, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Published in 2006, the novel is violent and spooky, a rumination on madness and creativity.
Remedial Reader: The Essential Stephen King Back List|Jessica Ferri|April 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Lady Hartledon had dismissed her maid, and stood leaning against the arm of the sofa, indulging in bitter rumination.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
At this a light came into his face, and after some seconds of rumination he despatched Nance upon an errand.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson, Volume XXI|Robert Louis Stevenson
He sat looking surly and gloomy, buried in rumination, and by-and-by rose and left the room.
Trevlyn Hold|Mrs. Henry Wood
He kept sighing and wrinkling his brows, as though in deep rumination on a matter far removed from the stumpage question.
The Skipper and the Skipped|Holman Day
Then he wrenched off a huge chew of tobacco whose rumination might check his impulse toward tempestuous language.
The Skipper and the Skipped|Holman Day