Meaning & use

ruminated

verb·Advanced

Last updated

Thought deeply and repeatedly about something; or, of an animal, chewed cud.

See it in a sentence

He ruminated on the decision for weeks before finally making up his mind.

The cows ruminated peacefully in the pasture, chewing their cud in the afternoon sun.

A note on using this word

From Latin ruminare, originally describing cattle re-chewing swallowed food, a meaning still used literally in zoology.

Words with a similar meaning

ponderedmulled overbrooded

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

Chewed regurgitated, partly digested food, as cattle and other ruminants do.

The goats ruminated quietly under the shade of the barn.

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