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Dictionary definition of ruminate

To think deeply or ponder over something, often for an extended period of time.
"The philosopher encouraged his students to ruminate on existential questions."

Detailed meaning of ruminate

It is often used to describe a person's thought process when they are trying to solve a problem, make a decision, or understand something complex. The act of rumination can be both positive and negative, for example, someone might ruminate over a happy memory or event, or someone might ruminate over a difficult situation or regret. Rumination can be a symptom of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, where a person may get stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts. It is also used in relation to animals, particularly ruminants, like cows, sheep, and goats, which have a multi-chambered stomach that allows them to regurgitate and rechew their food.

Example sentences of ruminate

1. She would often ruminate on the meaning of life during long walks.
2. Don't constantly ruminate on past mistakes; learn and move forward.
3. After the breakup, he would ruminate about what went wrong.
4. It's essential to ruminate on important decisions before making them.
5. He would ruminate on the complexities of human nature late at night.
6. The philosopher liked to ruminate on the nature of existence.

History and etymology of ruminate

The verb 'ruminate' has its etymology in Latin. It is derived from the Latin word 'ruminare,' which means 'to chew the cud.' This term was originally used in the context of the digestive process of certain animals, particularly ruminants like cows, who regurgitate their food and chew it again for better digestion. Over time, 'ruminate' evolved to describe the human mental process of thinking deeply or pondering over something, often for an extended period of time. The etymology of 'ruminate' draws a parallel between the act of contemplation and the repetitive and thorough chewing of food, emphasizing the idea of mentally processing and digesting thoughts, ideas, or experiences through deep reflection and consideration.

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Further usage examples of ruminate

1. It's not healthy to constantly ruminate on your anxieties.
2. She would ruminate on her goals and aspirations for hours.
3. Take time to ruminate on your values to make better choices.
4. Ruminating on the problem eventually led to a breakthrough solution.
5. I often ruminate on life's mysteries.
6. She likes to ruminate on the meaning of art.
7. Let's take a moment to ruminate on our choices.
8. They ruminate over their decision before taking action.
9. He tends to ruminate on past mistakes.
10. We should ruminate on the consequences of our actions.
11. The artist would often ruminate on new ideas for her paintings.
12. Don't rush to a conclusion; take some time to ruminate.
13. It's healthy to ruminate on different perspectives before forming an opinion.
14. She would often ruminate on the nature of love.
15. The author would ruminate on his characters' motivations before writing their stories.
16. Let's ruminate on the possibilities before making a final decision.
17. The CEO would ruminate on the company's future strategy during long walks.
18. I like to sit by the window and ruminate on the beauty of nature.
19. He would ruminate on the lyrics before composing a song.
20. It's important to ruminate on the lessons learned from past experiences.
21. We need to ruminate on the potential risks before proceeding.
22. She would often ruminate on the state of the world and its problems.
23. Taking a break to ruminate on a problem can lead to better solutions.

Synonyms

reflect

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