ruminatively
1
7.9
- adverb
- /ˈrumɪnətɪvli/
- My father chewed ruminatively.
- chewed ruminatively
Examples
-
However, after much more explication, she said (ruminatively), "I don't know, I guess I'm getting to where I don't even think of him as a human being."
Academic text (1992) -
Tom swallows the last of his drink and stares ruminatively down at his glass.
Fiction book (1990) -
He studied me ruminatively.
Fiction book (1992) -
Tom stares ruminatively at the sunset, lost in his thoughts about the past.
-
As she looked out the window, she pondered ruminatively the choices that had brought her here.
-
He sat in the armchair, thinking ruminatively about his next steps in life.
Synonyms
2
4.8
In a way that shows careful thought before speaking or acting
2
7.0
In a quiet, serious way that shows deep thought and a little sadness
1
6.8
In a quiet, thoughtful way
1
7.1
In a deep, sad way while thinking
1
7.3
When a person looks carefully at their own thoughts and feelings
1
7.2
In a quiet way that shows someone is thinking hard
Antonyms
How Thoughtfully
Surface Forms
Morphology
ruminatively = ruminative (transparent) = ruminate + ive + ly
A standard adverb formed from the adjective 'ruminative' by adding -ly; the resulting meaning is the adverbial form of that adjective.
Etymology
Ruminatively comes from the Latin ruminare, which means 'to chew the cud', what cows do when they slowly chew and swallow their food again. So to be ruminative or to act ruminatively is like 'chewing' your thoughts slowly and carefully, which is why the word means to think deeply.