Ruminative Meaning
/ˈruməˌneɪdɪv/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjCausing rumination or prone to it; thoughtful.
adjRelating to or characteristic of ruminants; chewing the cud.
Sentence Examples
She had a ruminative expression on her face as she sat there.
His ruminative thoughts kept him awake for most of the night.
She entered a ruminative state while walking through the quiet woods.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
He was in a ____ mood, spending hours thinking deeply about his future career.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The philosopher had a ____ nature, often pausing mid-sentence to consider his words carefully.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English ruminate Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Old French -ifbor. Middle English -yf English -ive English ruminative From ruminate + -ive.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"They waited expectantly while he directed a ruminative yawn toward the white smiling moon."
— 1922, F. Scott Fitzgerald, chapter 5, in The Beautiful and Damned, archived from the original on 05 Mar 2011:
"‘It happened,’ returned the man, with a ruminative air, as he drew his right hand across his chin, and dipped the other in the pocket of his rough outer coat, ‘it happened somewhere about here as I reckon. I don’t think it can have been a mile from here.’"
— 1864, Charles Dickens, chapter 12, in Our Mutual Friend, archived from the original on 08 Apr 2011:
"The ruminative 'cello uttered two phrases of its own and then began a dialogue with the viola."
— 1970, Patrick O'Brian, Master and Commander:
"I found that the chore of reorganizing the artifacts of my professional life was pleasantly ruminative. It had a tonic effect, because it allowed me to reflect on the changes in my views over the years."
— 2010, Diane Ravitch, The Death and Life of the Great American School System, page 1:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He was in a ____ mood, spending hours thinking deeply about his future career.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The philosopher had a ____ nature, often pausing mid-sentence to consider his words carefully.