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grübeln

brood

verb GRUE-beln Less Common

Also means

ruminate

Usage Note

grübeln means to ponder anxiously and unproductively; it takes über plus accusative. Forms: grübelt, grübelte, hat gegrübelt. It carries a negative tone, unlike neutral nachdenken. Related noun Grübelei.

Examples

"Sie grübelte die ganze Nacht über die Entscheidung."

Natural Translation

She brooded all night over the decision.

Literal Translation

She brooded the whole night over the decision.

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