C2verb & nounAdvanced vocabulary

muse: meaning, pronunciation and examples

/mjuz/·MYOOZ

Muse (verb) means to think carefully about something for a long time.

What does “muse” mean?

  1. 1

    verbto think carefully about something for a long time

    She mused on what might have happened.
  2. 2

    nouna person or spirit that gives an artist ideas and inspiration

    The singer was the painter’s muse.

Muse at a glance

Part of speech
verb & noun
CEFR level
C2 (proficient)
Pronunciation
/mjuz/ · MYOOZ

How to use “muse” correctly

The verb usually takes “on”, “about” or “over”, or is used with direct speech: “Perhaps,” he mused.

Common phrases with “muse”

  • muse on
  • muse about
  • muse aloud

Synonyms (similar meaning)

Word family

  • musing
  • amuse

“muse” is on these word lists

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