muses; mused; musing
1
: to think about something carefully or thoroughly
—usually + about, on, over, or upon
She mused on the possibility of changing jobs.
musing about/over what might have been
2
: to think or say (something) in a thoughtful way
I could sell the house, she mused, but then where would I go?
plural muses
1
: a person who causes someone else to have ideas about creating a work of art : a person who inspires an artist, writer, etc.
The writer lost his muse when his wife left him.
2
: any one of the nine sister goddesses of song and poetry and the arts and sciences in Greek mythology
Cite this Entry
“Muse.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/muse. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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