ruminating

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitiveformal

   Thinking deeply and repeatedly about something, often for a long time, without reaching a decision.

   Grammar: No object; usually followed by on, over or about: ruminating on the past.

   Patterns

   • ruminating on something
   • ruminating about something
   • ruminating over something

   He spent the evening ruminating over what he should have said.

   She sat by the window ruminating on her future.

   Ruminating about the mistake only made her feel worse.

2. 2verbintransitivebiology

   Chewing partly digested food again, as cows and sheep do.

   Grammar: No object: the cows were ruminating.

   Patterns

   • ruminating animals

   The cows lay in the shade, ruminating quietly.

   Sheep spend hours ruminating after they graze.

   Goats and deer are ruminating animals.

Word forms

Common combinations

ruminating on the past

Stop ruminating on the past and move on.

ruminating over a decision

He was ruminating over the job offer.

ruminating about the future

She kept ruminating about the future.

stop ruminating

It helps to stop ruminating and take a walk.

ruminating cows

Ruminating cows were resting in the field.

Synonyms and how they differ

brooding

Brooding is gloomier and suggests unhappy, moody thought.

pondering

Pondering is calmer and more positive, and often leads to a conclusion.

dwelling

Dwelling is used with on and suggests staying stuck on an unpleasant topic.

musing

Musing is gentle, dreamy thought without worry.

Opposites

Word family

ruminate verb

to think deeply or to chew cud

rumination noun

deep thought, or chewing of cud

ruminant noun

an animal that chews cud

ruminative adjective

thoughtful, often in a brooding way

Commonly confused: ruminating or ruining?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “ruminating”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words