muse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Literary, formal, artistic. Can appear in everyday speech for humorous or deliberate effect.
Quick answer
What does “muse” mean?
to think about something in a deep, slow, and dreamy way.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to think about something in a deep, slow, and dreamy way; to consider something thoughtfully.
To act as a source of inspiration for someone (often said of a person, place, or idea). As a noun, it historically refers to a goddess who inspires an artist, and now commonly means a person or thing that inspires creative work.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more literary/archaic in both dialects, but equally understood in artistic/academic contexts.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in everyday speech in both regions. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British media due to historical literary associations.
Grammar
How to Use “muse” in a Sentence
[Subject] muses (on/upon/over [Object])[Subject] muses that [clause][Subject] muses aloudVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “muse” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He sat by the fire, musing on the day's strange events.
- I muse upon what might have been.
- 'Perhaps we're wrong,' she mused.
American English
- She mused over the old photograph for a long time.
- He mused that the plan might need more work.
- The author muses about life in the Midwest.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'muse' is not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - 'muse' is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A - 'muse' is not used as a standard adjective.
American English
- N/A - 'muse' is not used as a standard adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in branding or creative industries (e.g., 'The campaign's muse was modern architecture').
Academic
Found in literary criticism, art history, and philosophy (e.g., 'The poet discusses his muse').
Everyday
Uncommon. May be used humorously or metaphorically (e.g., 'My cat is my muse when I work from home').
Technical
Not applicable in STEM fields. Specific to humanities and arts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “muse”
- Using 'muse' as a synonym for 'think' in active decision-making contexts.
- Incorrect preposition: 'muse about' is weaker than 'muse on/upon'.
- Pronouncing it like 'moose' (/muːs/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's relatively uncommon in casual conversation. It's more frequent in literary, artistic, or formal written contexts.
Yes. The verb means 'to think deeply'. The noun means 'a source of inspiration', originally from Greek mythology.
'Muse' implies dreamy, unstructured reflection. 'Ponder' is more serious and prolonged consideration. 'Consider' is more general and neutral, often leading to a decision.
Yes, but 'muse on', 'muse upon', or 'muse over' are considered stronger, more traditional collocations. 'Muse about' is more informal.
to think about something in a deep, slow, and dreamy way.
Muse is usually literary, formal, artistic. can appear in everyday speech for humorous or deliberate effect. in register.
Muse: in British English it is pronounced /mjuːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /mjuːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A muse descended upon him.”
- “To be one's muse.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MUSEum – a quiet place for deep thought and inspiration.
Conceptual Metaphor
THINKING IS A JOURNEY ('He mused over the possibilities'), INSPIRATION IS A DIVINE FORCE/GUIDE ('She was his muse').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the activity of 'musing'?