to muse

Examples

• All

• Americans have a long tradition of musing about love and romance.

  Academic text (2013)

• "You have to wonder," Wharton muses, "will our children even know what a gorilla is?"

  Academic text (2007)

• In a place like here you muse about God and creation.

  Octaman (1971)

• Some authors do not muse within themselves, but by contrast, Bishop does.

• And Eve is musing to herself, but to Adam, in what sort shall I appear?

• Struggling with the ethics of their choices, they muse over what awaits them after death;

  Academic text (2017)

• In a thoughtful article published in 1980, Cohen mused about the future of the humanities in community colleges.

  Academic text (2007)

• Hobbes sat purring happily on my lap this evening as we mused about the day's experiences.

  Fiction book (1992)

• "You'll be going into some lawless territory," she mused, her voice soft over the comm-link.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Even after the resolution, Consul Montecchi mused about Gattuso's transfer out of Cleveland.

  Academic text (1998)

Synonyms

T

to think

vsto muse

∞ 1.0

To use your mind to consider something carefully

is narrower and more specifically calm, deep, and contemplative

R

to reflect

vsto muse

265 3.9

To think carefully about something before making a decision

leans more toward quiet, reflective contemplation than active analysis

S

to speculate

vsto muse

254 4.8

To think about possible reasons or outcomes when there are not enough facts

is more careful and contemplative rather than speculative or guessing

C

to contemplate

vsto muse

186 4.8

To think deeply about something for a long time

is similar but tends to feel quieter and more personal in tone

P

to ponder

vsto muse

134 4.3

Think carefully for a long time about something

is more gently reflective and less strictly deliberate in approach

R

to reflect on

vsto muse

120 4.0

To think carefully about something and what it means

is more inward and contemplative rather than analytical in tone

M

to meditate

vsto muse

104 4.4

To sit quietly and focus your mind to relax or think deeply

is more casual, imaginative reflection rather than intentional practice

M

to mull

vsto muse

36 4.7

Think carefully for a long time before making a decision

is more contemplative and less decision driven in feeling

M

to mull over

vsto muse

19 4.0

To think carefully about something before deciding

is more about thoughtful reflection than decision preparation

R

to ruminate

vsto muse

10 7.6

To think carefully about something for a long time

is more calmly reflective than repetitive rumination on the same thoughts

T

to think over

vsto muse

8 3.0

To look at something carefully before deciding

is more about calm reflection than active decision weighing

C

to chew over

vsto muse

• Informal

3 4.1

To think about or talk about something carefully for a long time

is more solitary and inwardly focused rather than conversational thinking

C

to cogitate

vsto muse

• Formal

3 8.5

To think carefully and deeply about something

is less formal and more quietly imaginative in its thinking

P

to ponder over

vsto muse

1 4.1

To think carefully about something for a long time

is more inwardly dreamy and less focused on continuous deliberation

E

to excogitate

vsto muse

• Formal

9.9

To think very carefully to find a new idea or solution

is more open and wonder driven rather than solution oriented

How Deep

to ruminate

10 7.6

to muse

35 6.1

to reflect

265 3.9

to ponder

134 4.3

to think

∞ 1.0

to consider

∞ 1.1

Surface Forms

Etymology