Brood Meaning to keep worrying or thinking about something that makes you upset, anxious, or annoyed. If you need a five-letter word for “to keep worrying or thinking about something,” BROOD is a strong fit.
For example: “Even after the team moved on, Owen continued to brood over the missed goal.” Owen is not just remembering the moment; it continues to bother him.
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The five-letter answer: BROOD
The spelling is B-R-O-O-D. In a vocabulary exercise or word puzzle, check the surrounding clues and any letters already provided. Similar words can fit other clues, but “brood” directly expresses lingering, troubled thought.
Do not confuse it with “brook.” Changing the final letter creates a different word: a brook can be a small stream, and the verb “brook” means to tolerate something. It does not mean to keep worrying.
How to use brood in a sentence
Use brood over, brood about, or brood on to name the subject of the thought.
- “I brooded over the awkward introduction all afternoon.”
- “Nina was brooding about the message she had sent.”
- “He sat quietly, brooding on the argument.”
You can also leave the subject unstated when the situation is clear: “She went home and brooded.”
The verb forms are brood, broods, brooded, and brooding. For example, “He broods over criticism” describes a recurring habit, while “He brooded over yesterday’s comment” describes a past occasion.
In this emotional sense, “She brooded over the decision” is more natural than “She brooded the decision.” Keep the preposition when you explain what is troubling the person.
Brood, dwell on, or ruminate?
These expressions overlap, but the emphasis changes.
| Expression | Main emphasis | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Brood over | Lingering on an upsetting thought | “He brooded over the rejection.” |
| Dwell on | Continuing to think or talk about a subject, often an unpleasant one | “We dwelled on the disagreement instead of discussing the next step.” |
| Ruminate on | Turning an idea over repeatedly in the mind | “She ruminated on the question during the train ride.” |
| Reflect on | Considering an experience or idea thoughtfully | “I reflected on what the workshop taught me.” |
Brood gives a sentence a troubled or gloomy feeling. Dwell on can describe either thought or extended discussion. Ruminate sounds more formal and can refer to contemplation; in ordinary vocabulary, it is not limited to worrying.
If you simply mean someone considered a choice carefully, “thought about,” “considered,” or “reflected on” may be more accurate. Calling that person “brooding” adds an emotional interpretation that you may not intend.
What “brooding” tells you about tone
Compare these two sentences:
“Lena thought about the feedback on her story.”
“Lena brooded over the feedback on her story.”
The first leaves Lena’s feelings open. She might be planning useful changes. The second suggests that the feedback upset her and remained on her mind.
That difference matters when describing another person. “You’re brooding again” can sound judgmental. If you want to ask what is happening without assuming how someone feels, “Is that conversation still on your mind?” is a gentler choice.
For another word describing an emotional state, see what “verklempt” means. It describes being overcome with emotion, which is different from repeatedly thinking about a troubling subject.
Does brood have other meanings?
Yes. As a noun, a brood can be a group of young birds or other animals produced at one time. As a verb, it can describe a bird sitting on eggs to hatch them.
Those meanings explain why a sentence about a nesting hen may contain “brood” without referring to worry. Context tells you which meaning applies.
For the phrase “to keep worrying or thinking about something,” use the emotional verb sense: brood. A simple example is “I kept brooding over what I should have said.”