ruminate

/ˈɹumɪneɪt/

Group 16Difficulty 2/3

Definition

(verb)
To think deeply about something; to chew the cud
GRE

Example in Context

The philosopher would ruminate for weeks on a single question before committing any thoughts to paper.

Synonyms

ponderreflectmull over

Etymology

To chew over mentally, like a cow chewing cud.

  • ruminare (Latin) — to chew over

Memory Aid

🤔Sounds like “room-in-ate

Imagine a cow sitting in a room, deep in thought, trying to remember if it already ATE its grass!

Visual Association

💭A thoughtful cow staring at a pile of grass, pondering its life choices with a bubble of thoughts above its head.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “ruminate” mean on the GRE?

ruminate (verb) means “To think deeply about something; to chew the cud”. The philosopher would ruminate for weeks on a single question before committing any thoughts to paper.

How to remember “ruminate” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “ruminate” sounds like “room-in-ate”. Imagine a cow sitting in a room, deep in thought, trying to remember if it already ATE its grass!

What are synonyms for “ruminate”?

Common synonyms: ponder, reflect, mull over.