Ruminate Meaning and Definition
Ruminate
Pronunciation
/rʊˈmɪneɪt/
Part of Speech
Verb
Definition
To chew over (food or ideas) again and again, typically with a sense of difficulty or vexation.
Examples
- She ruminate on the problem for hours, trying to come up with a solution.
- He spent most of the evening ruminate on the argument with his friend.
- She said she would ruminate on the proposal overnight and get back to you the next day.
- Ruminate on how you handled that situation and think of ways to improve.
Etymology
From Latin ‘ruminate’, from ‘rumen’, the second stomach of a cow.
Usage Notes
Ruminate is often used in informal settings, such as in conversation or personal reflection.
Cultural References
Jack Kerouac’s novel “On the Road” features a character who spends hours ruminate on the meaning of life.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- ‘To ruminate on something’
Related Words or Phrases
- Chew over
- Ponder
- Rothmund
Collocations
- ‘Ruminate on an idea’
- ‘Ruminate over a problem’
Frequency of Use
Ruminate is less commonly used in modern language, but is often used in more formal or literary contexts.
Common Misspellings
- Ruminant
- Ruminatee