Brooding Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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brooding

[ˈbruː.dɪŋ ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

mood

Showing deep unhappiness of thought; appearing dark and threatening

Synonyms

contemplative, melancholic, pensive, thoughtful.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
brooding	Used when someone is deep in thought and often feeling sad or worried. It has a somewhat negative connotation. He sat by the window, brooding over his recent breakup
thoughtful	Can be used when someone is giving serious consideration to something or showing care and consideration for others. It has a positive connotation. She was very thoughtful when planning her friend's surprise party
pensive	This fits situations where someone is thoughtfully considering something, often with a hint of sadness. He gazed at the old photographs with a pensive expression
contemplative	Appropriate when someone is deeply thinking about something in a calm and peaceful way. It can relate to considering ideas or reflecting on life. She often takes a contemplative walk in the park on Sunday mornings
melancholic	Best used when describing a deep, persistent sadness. It has a poetic and somewhat old-fashioned feel. The melancholic tune of the violin filled the room with a sense of longing

Examples of usage

He sat in brooding silence.
Her brooding eyes stared into the distance.
The brooding clouds signaled an approaching storm.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

bird behavior

Sitting on eggs to hatch them by warming them with the body heat

Synonyms

incubating, sitting.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
brooding	This term can describe someone deep in thought, often with a gloomy or serious mood. It can also refer to a bird keeping its eggs warm until they hatch. He was brooding all evening, lost in his own thoughts. The hen is brooding her eggs, waiting for them to hatch.
sitting	This word is used more generally for being seated or resting in one place, but in the context of birds, it can also mean keeping eggs warm until they hatch. She was sitting on the bench, enjoying the afternoon sun. The duck is sitting on her eggs to keep them warm.
incubating	This is a technical term used specifically for keeping eggs warm until they hatch, often in a controlled environment like an incubator. The scientist is incubating the eggs to ensure the chicks will hatch successfully. In the wild, certain birds take turns incubating their eggs.

Word

Description / Examples

brooding

This term can describe someone deep in thought, often with a gloomy or serious mood. It can also refer to a bird keeping its eggs warm until they hatch.

He was brooding all evening, lost in his own thoughts.
The hen is brooding her eggs, waiting for them to hatch.

sitting

This word is used more generally for being seated or resting in one place, but in the context of birds, it can also mean keeping eggs warm until they hatch.

She was sitting on the bench, enjoying the afternoon sun.
The duck is sitting on her eggs to keep them warm.

incubating

This is a technical term used specifically for keeping eggs warm until they hatch, often in a controlled environment like an incubator.

The scientist is incubating the eggs to ensure the chicks will hatch successfully.
In the wild, certain birds take turns incubating their eggs.

Examples of usage

The hen was brooding her eggs in the nest.
The brooding process is essential for the eggs to hatch.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

Brooding is often associated with negative patterns of thinking, particularly in conditions like depression and anxiety.
Research suggests that brooding can lead to rumination, which can prolong feelings of sadness and make it harder to recover.

Literature

Many literary characters, like Heathcliff in 'Wuthering Heights', are depicted as brooding figures, symbolizing emotional depth and unresolved issues.
Authors often use brooding characters to create tension and explore complex emotional landscapes in their stories.

Pop Culture

Brooding is a common trope in film and television, often depicted through characters who are quiet, serious, and intensely introspective, like Batman.
Musicians often write brooding songs that explore themes of heartache, loss, and existential thinking, making them relatable to listeners.

Art

Visual artists sometimes depict brooding figures in their works to evoke feelings of melancholy and introspection, as seen in paintings by Edward Munch.
The brooding aesthetic is prominent in Romantic art, where artists expressed the darker aspects of the human experience.

Origin of 'brooding'

Main points about word origin

The term 'brooding' comes from the Old English word 'brūdan', meaning 'to sit upon', originally referring to birds sitting on eggs to keep them warm.
In the 16th century, the word began to acquire its modern sense of deep, serious thought or contemplation.

The word 'brooding' originates from the Old English word 'brōdian', meaning to brood or incubate. Over time, the meaning expanded to include the sense of deep thought or contemplation. The adjective form of 'brooding' developed in the 17th century, referring to a dark and threatening appearance. In the context of bird behavior, 'brooding' has been used to describe the act of sitting on eggs to keep them warm for hatching.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,425, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.

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