woolgather

[ wool-gath-er ]

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in woolgathering.

Other Words From

• woolgather·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of woolgather¹

First recorded in 1840–50; by back formation from woolgathering

Example Sentences

The train lurched over a patch of rough tracks, jarring me out of my woolgathering.

From Literature

But such are the longueurs of this would-be slam-bang blockbuster directed by Robert Schwentke, that it sure does inspire woolgathering.

From New York Times

I listened to their woolgathering for a while, and then some artillery rumbled in the distance.

From New York Times

Chronic lateness is a personality characteristic just as much as smiling or shyness or empathy or mothering or woolgathering, to name a few of the more benign.

From Seattle Times

Most people spend between 30 and 47 percent of their waking hours spacing out, drifting off, lost in thought, woolgathering, in a brown study or building castles in the air.

From Scientific American

Related Words

• consider
• contemplate
• deliberate
• evaluate
• examine
• mull
• mull over
• puzzle over
• reflect
• speculate
• weigh