# puzzle over

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/puzzle-over
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To think intensely and deeply about a confusing problem, situation, or question in an effort to understand it or to find a solution.

## 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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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.