Idiom idiom
puzzle over
Meaning
To think intensely and deeply about a confusing problem, situation, or question in an effort to understand it or to find a solution.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“I puzzle over this math problem every night.”
“The detective continued to puzzle over the strange clues left at the crime scene, hoping to find a pattern.”
“Scholars have continued to puzzle over the mysterious origins of the ancient manuscript, yet no definitive explanation has emerged after decades of study.”
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Last updated August 10, 2026