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.
"You like T. S. Eliot's "The Waste Land"? You must be so brooding and deep."
"his brooding good looks and distinct Scottish brogue won him legions of fans worldwide."
— Alan Young, Sean Connery obituary: From delivering milk in Fountainbridge to the definitive James Bond (2020)
"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Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSunk deep in gloomy or serious thought; a moody, withdrawn state of mind.
Common pairings
brooding silence
brooding stare
dark and brooding
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Word forms
- Plural
- broodings
- Comparative
- more brooding
- Superlative
- most brooding
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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.
Synonyms
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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 In plain terms, sunk deep in gloomy or serious thought; a moody, withdrawn state of mind.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.
