ruminate

play

verb ru·mi·nate \ ˈrü-mə-ˌnāt \

Definition of ruminate

ruminated; ruminating

transitive verb

1 :to go over in the mind repeatedly and often casually or slowly

2 :to chew repeatedly for an extended period

intransitive verb

1 :to chew again what has been chewed slightly and swallowed :chew the cud

2 :to engage in contemplation :reflect

—

rumination

play \ˌrü-mə-ˈnā-shən\ noun

—

ruminative

play \ˈrü-mə-ˌnā-tiv\ adjective

—

ruminatively

adverb

—

ruminator

play \-ˌnā-tər\ noun

See ruminate defined for English-language learners

See ruminate defined for kids

ruminate was our Word of the Day on 12/23/2016. Hear the podcast!

Examples of ruminate in a Sentence

The question got us ruminating on the real value of wealth.
He ruminated over the implications of their decision.

Recent Examples of ruminate from the Web

As the group finishes up the last of their brews and the sun starts to give way to a summer breeze, Settine pauses to ruminate on the past year.

— birmingham magazine, AL.com, "Birmingham suburb natives form band specializing in harmonizing," 25 Aug. 2017
Since British voters endorsed leaving the European Union, politicians and pundits have ruminated on which of the bloc’s remaining 27 nations could be next.

— vanessa gera, The Seattle Times, "Open conflict triggers concern Poland might leave EU next," 5 Aug. 2017
That was before the punditocracy identified the maniacal following Trump was beginning to attract, or the disdain for establishment party leaders ruminating in The Base, or some formidable combination of both.

— jack holmes, Esquire, "Trump Laid a Despicable Attack on McCain 2 Years Ago. Not Much Has Changed.," 18 July 2017
Here is the Media Days schedule, with TCU leading off the festivities after Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby ruminates.

— vince langford, star-telegram, "Big 12 Football Media Days begin Monday at The Star in Frisco: Talk is on," 17 July 2017
To break the habit of resentfully ruminating about the past, try shifting your attention towards the future.

— tribune news service, OregonLive.com, "Office Coach: Irritating colleague requires tolerance," 15 July 2017
Nick Bilton, Sarah Ellison, and the Hive’s team of ace journalists ruminate on it all, along with special guest Mark Leibovich, the chief national correspondent for The New York Times Magazine.

— jon kelly, The Hive, "Arianna Huffington’s Endgame, McConnellghazi, and The Mooch’s Very Strange Week," 30 June 2017
But critical college football decisions were contemplated – or at least ruminated upon – over coffee and biscuits in that back booth.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Where to eat, drink in Birmingham, Alabama," 30 June 2017
While ruminating on New York City’s best spots to fill up leisure time, many would be hard-pressed to name a lounge-worthy park for lazy summer afternoons or a haute boîte fit for ringing in a special occasion north of 155th Street.

— martine thompson, Vogue, "Beyond Brooklyn: 3 Uptown Girls Share Their Favorite New York City Gems," 26 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ruminate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

When you ruminate you chew something over, either literally or figuratively. Literal rumination may seem a little gross to humans, but to cows, chewing your cud (that's partially digested food brought up from the stomach for another chew) is just a natural part of life. Figurative ruminating is much more palatable to humans; that kind of deep, meditative thought is often deemed quite a worthy activity. The verb "ruminate" has described metaphorical chewing over since the 1500s and actual chewing since the early 1600s. Our English word derives from and shares the meanings of the Latin ruminari, which in turn derives from "rumen," the Latin name for the first stomach compartment of ruminant animals (that is, creatures like cows that chew their cud).

Origin and Etymology of ruminate

Latin ruminatus, past participle of ruminari to chew the cud, muse upon, from rumin-, rumen rumen; perhaps akin to Sanskrit romantha act of chewing the cud

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1533

See Words from the same year

ruminate Synonyms

Synonyms

chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, debate, deliberate, entertain, eye, kick around, meditate, mull (over), perpend, pore (over), question, revolve, ponder, study, think (about or over), turn, weigh, wrestle (with)

Related Words

muse (upon), reflect (on or upon), reminisce; analyze, explore, review; conclude, reason; second-guess, speculate (about); brood (about or over), dwell (on or upon), fixate (on or upon), fret (about or over), obsess (about or over); believe, conceive, opine; absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in)

Near Antonyms

disregard, ignore, overlook, slight; dismiss, pooh-pooh (also pooh), reject

Synonym Discussion of ruminate

ponder, meditate, muse, ruminate mean to consider or examine attentively or deliberately. ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter.

- pondered the course of action

meditate implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something so as to understand it deeply.

- meditated on the meaning of life

muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance.

- mused upon childhood joys

ruminate implies going over the same matter in one's thoughts again and again but suggests little of either purposive thinking or rapt absorption.

- ruminated on past disappointments

RUMINATE Defined for English Language Learners

ruminate

play

verb

Definition of ruminate for English Language Learners

: to think carefully and deeply about something
of an animal : to bring up and chew again what has already been chewed and swallowed

RUMINATE Defined for Kids

ruminate

play

verb ru·mi·nate \ ˈrü-mə-ˌnāt \

Definition of ruminate for Students

ruminated; ruminating

:to think carefully and deeply :meditate

Medical Dictionary

ruminate

play

intransitive verb ru·mi·nate \ ˈrü-mə-ˌnāt \

medical Definition of ruminate

ruminated; ruminating

1 :to chew again what has been chewed slightly and swallowed :chew the cud

2 :to engage in contemplation

Learn More about ruminate

See words that rhyme with ruminate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ruminate Spanish Central: Translation of ruminate Nglish: Translation of ruminate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ruminate for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up ruminate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

ruminate

Definition of ruminate

rumination

ruminative

ruminatively

ruminator

Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd

ruminate was our Word of the Day on 12/23/2016. Hear the podcast!

Examples of ruminate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of ruminate from the Web

Did You Know?

Origin and Etymology of ruminate

ruminate Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of ruminate

RUMINATE Defined for English Language Learners

ruminate

Definition of ruminate for English Language Learners

RUMINATE Defined for Kids

ruminate

Definition of ruminate for Students

Medical Dictionary

ruminate

medical Definition of ruminate

Learn More about ruminate

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066