Meaning & use

ruminative

adjective·Advanced

Deeply thoughtful, given to slow and careful reflection on something.

See it in a sentence

He fell into a ruminative silence after hearing the surprising news.

Her ruminative essays often circle a single memory from several different angles.

A note on using this word

Ruminative shares a root with ruminate, originally describing a cow chewing its cud, extended to mean mentally chewing over an idea.

Words with a similar meaning

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