"Rumination" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
Rumination is the act of thinking carefully and thoroughly about something, often in a repetitive or persistent way. It can also refer to the process of chewing cud, which is when an animal, such as a cow, digests food in its mouth after eating. However, in psychology, rumination typically refers to a negative thinking pattern where a person repetitively thinks about a past event, conversation, or situation, often dwelling on negative thoughts, concerns, or regrets.
Example: "She's been ruminating about her exam results all day, and can't concentrate on anything else."
Synonyms: reflection, contemplation, mulling over, brooding.
Antonyms: distraction, diversion, forgetting.
An animal that chews its cud, such as a cow or sheep. Cattle, goats, and deer are all examples of ruminant mammals, which have a four-chambered stomach that allows them to digest plant material, particularly cellulose in grasses and other tough plant fibers. The process of regurgitating and re-chewing food is called rumination.<br><br>By extension, someone who ruminates may be thought of as someone who gives a lot of thought to something, particularly a problem or a worry, and can be seen as a synonym for a person who is "mulling over" something in their mind.<br><br>Example: "The cow was seen grazing peacefully, contentedly ruminating on the fresh grass."
To think deeply and carefully about something, often by turning it over in your mind. To ponder or deliberate about something thoughtfully and quietly.
To engage in deep thought or reflection, often about something unpleasant or distressing, typically in a repetitive or obsessive way.