brood on — to think deeply and unhappily about something for a long time, often worrying or feeling upset about it
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to think deeply and unhappily about something for a long time, often worrying or feeling upset about it
Pronunciation (IPA): /bruːd ɑːn/
Example Sentences
- Don't brood on that embarrassing text you sent — everyone forgot about it already!
- My cat sat by the window all day, brooding on the bird that got away.
- She spent the whole weekend brooding on whether she made the right career choice.
brood on
VERB[/bruːd ɑːn/]
to think deeply and unhappily about something for a long time, often worrying or feeling upset about it
He sat by the window at midnight, unable to stop brooding on his mistake.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old English 'brod' meaning a hatching or brooding of young birds; a hen sitting on eggs. The image of patiently sitting on something extended metaphorically to mean 'to dwell persistently on a thought.'
Breakdown
brood (to sit on and hatch eggs, figuratively to dwell on) + on (indicating continuous focus on a topic)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Don't brood on that embarrassing text you sent — everyone forgot about it already!”
“My cat sat by the window all day, brooding on the bird that got away.”
“She spent the whole weekend brooding on whether she made the right career choice.”
“It's healthier to solve a problem than to brood on it endlessly.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.