brooding Meaning & Definition
What Does Brooding Mean?
Brooding is an adjective that means moodily or sullenly thoughtful or serious. It is also used to mean darkly somber. As a verb, it means to sit on or incubate (eggs).
Word Facts for Brooding
| Part of speech | adjective, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈbrü-diŋ/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | pensive, brood and musing |
| Comparative / superlative | more brooding, most brooding |
| Adverb | broodingly |
Brooding Definition (Adjective)
- moodily or sullenly thoughtful or serious
a brooding genius / a brooding, embittered man
- darkly somber
a brooding landscape / a quiet, brooding atmosphere / … brooding, violent images reminiscent of … film noir …
Brooding as a Verb
- to sit on or incubate (eggs)
- to produce by or as if by incubation : hatch
- to cover (young) with the wings
- to think anxiously or gloomily about : ponder
… to brood these unnamed emotions deep within us.
- to brood eggs or young
- to sit quietly and thoughtfully : meditate
… he brooded about himself and his family.
- hover, loom
the old fort brooding above the valley
- to dwell gloomily on a subject
brooded over a mistake
- to be in a state of depression
sat brooding in my room
Synonyms of Brooding
Antonyms of Brooding
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Brooding in a Sentence
A brooding hen can be aggressive.
You like T. S. Eliot's "The Waste Land"? You must be so brooding and deep.
a brooding genius
a brooding, embittered man
a brooding landscape
a quiet, brooding atmosphere
… brooding, violent images reminiscent of … film noir …
… to brood these unnamed emotions deep within us.
… he brooded about himself and his family.
the old fort brooding above the valley
brooded over a mistake
sat brooding in my room
don't disturb the hen while she's brooding
a brooding genius / a brooding, embittered man
a brooding landscape / a quiet, brooding atmosphere / … brooding, violent images reminiscent of … film noir …
Word Forms & Grammar
brood·ing·ly adverb
brooding
broodingly
brood·ed
brood·ing
broods
brood
brooded
brooding (comparative more brooding, superlative most brooding)
brooding (plural broodings)
Words That Rhyme With Brooding
Origin of Brooding
Middle English broden, verbal derivative of brod, brood brood:1
First Known Use
1818
15th centuryt
How to Pronounce Brooding
You say brooding as /ˈbrü-diŋ/. It has 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (brü).
Frequently Asked Questions About Brooding
Is brooding an adjective or a verb?
Brooding is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for brooding?
Words with a similar meaning to brooding include pensive, brood and musing. See the full list of brooding synonyms and antonyms.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of brooding?
The comparative form is more brooding and the superlative form is most brooding.