What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ruminating
Example
She spent the whole night ruminating on her past mistakes. [ruminating: verb]
Example
He was ruminating on the meaning of life when he suddenly had an epiphany. [ruminating: gerund or present participle]
musing
Example
She was musing about what it would be like to live in a different country. [musing: verb]
Example
He was lost in his own musings and didn't hear the question. [musings: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Musing is more commonly used than ruminating in everyday language. Musing is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while ruminating is less common and tends to be used in more formal or academic settings.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between ruminating and musing?
Ruminating is typically associated with a more formal or academic tone, while musing is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.
