brood over

VERB

concentrate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

apply establish fixate focus intensify put settle

STRONG

attend center contemplate examine hammer meditate muse need peruse ponder rivet ruminate scrutinize set study sweat weigh

WEAK

be engrossed in bring to bear consider closely crack one's brains direct attention fix attention focus attention get on the beam give attention hammer away at head trip knuckle down occupy thoughts pour it on put mind to rack one's brains think hard

Antonyms

STRONGEST

confuse unsettle

STRONG

disregard forget ignore neglect

WEAK

disperse scatter

VERB

contemplate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aim consider envisage foresee intend mean mull over ponder propose think of weigh

STRONG

deliberate design excogitate expect mind observe percolate purpose ruminate speculate study

WEAK

aspire to chew over cool out kick around meditate on muse over perpend reflect upon size up take in

Antonyms

STRONGEST

forget ignore neglect reject

STRONG

disregard

WEAK

discard look away scorn slight

VERB

harbor

Synonyms

STRONGEST

believe cherish cling to maintain retain

STRONG

consider entertain hold imagine regard

Antonyms

STRONG

disbelieve disregard forget ignore neglect reject

VERB

hover

Synonyms

STRONGEST

drift flicker flutter fly linger poise waver

STRONG

dance flit flitter

WEAK

be suspended hang about wait nearby

Antonyms

WEAK

lie rest settle

VERB

lucubrate

Synonyms

STRONG

coach cogitate consider cram dig examine excogitate grind inquire learn meditate mind peruse plug plunge ponder read refresh think tutor weigh

WEAK

apply oneself bone up burn midnight oil bury oneself in crack the books dive into go into go over hit the books learn the ropes mull over perpend polish up pore over read up think out think over

Antonyms

STRONG

dismiss disregard forget ignore neglect overlook

VERB

meditate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ponder ruminate

STRONG

cogitate consider deliberate design devise dream figure intend moon muse plan purpose reflect revolve roll scheme speculate study think track view weigh

WEAK

entertain idea have in mind mull over put on thinking cap puzzle over say to oneself think deeply think over

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ignore neglect

STRONG

disbelieve disregard forget

WEAK

dismiss

VERB

mull

Synonyms

STRONGEST

contemplate deliberate examine ponder weigh

STRONG

chaw consider delay figure linger meditate moon procrastinate reflect review revolve ruminate study woolgather

WEAK

hammer away at muse on pore over rack one's brains stew over sweat over think over turn over

Antonyms

STRONGEST

forget ignore neglect

STRONG

advance dismiss disregard hurry leave rush

VERB

remember

Synonyms

STRONGEST

commemorate get learn look back recall recognize relive remind

STRONG

bethink cite educe elicit enshrine extract memorialize memorize mind recollect reminisce retain retrospect revive revoke treasure

WEAK

bear in mind call to mind call up conjure up dig into the past dwell upon fix in the mind flash on go back have memories hold dear keep forever know by heart nail down refresh memory ring a bell strike a note summon up think back

Antonyms

STRONGEST

forget miss misunderstand

STRONG

repress

WEAK

disregard

VERB

study

Synonyms

STRONGEST

consider examine learn ponder pore over read think

STRONG

coach cogitate cram dig excogitate grind inquire lucubrate meditate mind peruse plug plunge refresh tutor weigh

WEAK

apply oneself bone up burn midnight oil bury oneself in crack the books dive into go into go over hit the books learn the ropes mull over perpend polish up read up think out think over

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disregard forget ignore neglect

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But they act out their past more than they brood over it.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2025

So you just brood over it and have real honest conversations every night?

From Salon • Jun. 18, 2023

Phoebe is one of the gang of seven who lost their real jobs in the Great Recession of 2008 and now meet for lunch every Wednesday to brood over their freelance careers.

From New York Times • Oct. 18, 2019

Characters brood over events that haven’t yet been explained or refer to people before Roy introduces them.

From Slate • Jun. 19, 2017

When I would wake up, I would brood over it, and Dr. Kane has said to me more than once, “Maggie, I see that the vampire is over you still.”

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

brood over

Example Sentences

Related Words