musing

1 of 2

noun

mus·​ing ˈmyü-ziŋ 

: meditation

My musing and writings on this issue do not come from the groves of academe.

—Herbert S. White

musing

2 of 2

adjective

: thoughtfully abstracted : meditative

musingly

ˈmyü-ziŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Adjective

• melancholy
• thoughtful
• reflective
• philosophic
• contemplative
• philosophical
• pensive

Examples of musing in a Sentence

Adjective

he was clearly in a musing mood, and did not feel like talking just then

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The setting of a raucous party allows DaCosta to thread strikingly modern musings on the intersections of race, queerness, and class into Ibsen’s classic without weighing it down. —Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025

Among a flurry of nationalistic musings was an obscure academic named George Grant who scored a surprise bestseller in 1965’s Lament for a Nation. —Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025

Screenwriter-director Kevin Smith’s low-key musings and loopy wisdom are nicely wrapped with an unaffected sweetness. —Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2025

Reddit user u/TotalThing7 shared a nostalgic musing in the subreddit r/CasualConversation after watching a 1990s TV show. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

see muse entry 1

Adjective

see muse entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for musing

• bruising
• choosing
• cruising
• fusing
• losing
• oozing
• using
• abusing
• accusing
• amusing
• confusing
• defusing