ruminate

[ roo-muh-neyt ]

verb (used without object)

, ru·mi·nat·ed, ru·mi·nat·ing.

1. to meditate or muse; ponder.

   Synonyms: reflect, think

2. Psychology. to obsessively revisit the same thought or theme over and over again.
3. to chew the cud, as a ruminant.

verb (used with object)

, ru·mi·nat·ed, ru·mi·nat·ing.

1. to chew again or over and over.
2. to meditate on; ponder.

ruminate

/ ˈruːmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. (of ruminants) to chew (the cud)
2. whenintr, often foll by upon, on, etc to meditate or ponder (upon)

Derived Forms

• ˈruminatively, adverb
• ˈrumiˌnator, noun
• ˌrumiˈnation, noun
• ˈruminative, adjective

Other Words From

• ru·mi·nat·ing·ly adverb
• ru·mi·na·tion [roo-m, uh, -, ney, -sh, uh, n] noun
• ru·mi·na·tive adjective
• ru·mi·na·tive·ly adverb
• ru·mi·na·tor noun
• non·ru·mi·nat·ing adjective
• non·ru·mi·nat·ing·ly adverb
• non·ru·mi·na·tive adjective
• un·ru·mi·nat·ed adjective
• un·ru·mi·nat·ing adjective
• un·ru·mi·nat·ing·ly adverb
• un·ru·mi·na·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ruminate¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin rūminātus (past participle of rūminārī, rūmināre “to ruminate”), equivalent to rūmin- (stem of rūmen “throat, gullet”; rumen ) + -ātus past participle suffix ( -ate ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of ruminate¹

C16: from Latin rūmināre to chew the cud, from rumen

Example Sentences

“Afterwards you ruminate and you think, ‘What were they implying, that I was trying to be provocative?’”

From BBC

Penn State won in overtime, leaving the Trojans to ruminate on a third loss in four weeks.

From Los Angeles Times

Others ruminate over major fork-in-the-road moments, like turning down a potentially exciting career opportunity.

From Los Angeles Times

Together they ruminate about the good old days of L.A. when they’re not storming city council meetings with dramatic filibusters about bus schedules.

From Los Angeles Times

Ostrin also included in his report comments from Mavis Leno’s neurologist, Dr. Hart Cohen, who told Ostrin she “has a lot of disorientation” and “will ruminate about her parents who have both passed and her mother who died about 20 years ago.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• brainstorm
• brood
• meditate
• ponder