English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj

brooding

BROO-dihng

Brooding (adj) means Deeply, often gloomily thoughtful. Example: “He had a brooding look on his face after the meeting.”

adj
1
Deeply, often gloomily thoughtful.
"He had a brooding look on his face after the meeting."
noun
1
A period of dwelling moodily on one's thoughts.
"After weeks of brooding, she finally decided to quit her job."

How to Use Brooding

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSunk deep in gloomy or serious thought; a moody, withdrawn state of mind.

Common pairings
brooding silence brooding stare dark and brooding

Word Forms

more brooding comparative, broodings plural, most brooding superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “brooding” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He had a _____ look on his face after the meeting.

Etymology

From the verb "brood," in its sense of dwelling silently and unhappily on one's thoughts.

incubation pensiveness

Related Words

Rhymes for brooding

See all rhymes for brooding →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “brooding” mean?

The word “brooding” means deeply, often gloomily thoughtful. In plain terms, sunk deep in gloomy or serious thought; a moody, withdrawn state of mind.

How do you pronounce “brooding”?

“Brooding” is pronounced BROO-dihng (/ˈbɹuːdɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “brooding” in a sentence?

Here is “brooding” used in a sentence: “He had a brooding look on his face after the meeting.”

What part of speech is “brooding”?

Depending on how it is used, “brooding” can be an adjective and a noun.

How many meanings does “brooding” have?

“Brooding” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: deeply, often gloomily thoughtful.

People Also Searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial