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Core action
Think deeply, repeatedly, and at length about a question, experience, or problem.
Example
The essay ruminates about how memory changes over time.
ruminate about
/ˈruːmɪneɪt əˈbaʊt/ · ROO-mih-nayt uh-BOWTverb phrase
Think deeply, repeatedly, and at length about a question, experience, or problem.
Use ruminate about to express this relationship precisely: think deeply, repeatedly, and at length about a question, experience, or problem.
What ruminate about Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
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Common construction
Use this expression in its normal grammatical frame so the relationship between the surrounding ideas remains explicit.
Example
She continued to ruminate about the decision long after the meeting.
3
Reasoning effect
It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.
Example
Rather than answer directly, the novel ruminates about the costs of ambition.
Use ruminate about Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The essay ruminates about how memory changes over time.
She continued to ruminate about the decision long after the meeting.
Rather than answer directly, the novel ruminates about the costs of ambition.
Precision Matters
Ruminate about overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
ruminate about
vs.Means think deeply, repeatedly, and at length about a question, experience, or problem.
grapple with
Means make a sustained effort to understand or deal with a difficult problem, question, or situation.
ruminate about
vs.Means think deeply, repeatedly, and at length about a question, experience, or problem.
scrutiny
Means close, careful, and often critical examination.
ruminate about
vs.Means think deeply, repeatedly, and at length about a question, experience, or problem.
appraise
Means assess the value, quality, condition, or significance of something.
ruminate about
vs.Means think deeply, repeatedly, and at length about a question, experience, or problem.
surmise
Means to infer or guess without conclusive proof.
Test ruminate about in Context
The author thinks deeply and repeatedly about a difficult issue.
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For several chapters, the author appears to ___ the moral implications of the discovery.