# muse

/ˈmjuz/ (US) · /mjˈuːs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/muse
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to think deeply

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to think about something carefully and for a long time.

For teachers: to reflect or ponder on a subject in a deep, meditative, or dreamy manner. Often used with the preposition 'on' or 'about'.

- He sat by the window to muse on his future and what he should do next.
- The philosopher spent his final years musing on the nature of consciousness, rarely publishing but constantly filling notebooks with his private reflections.

### 2. source of inspiration

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a person, often a woman, who gives an artist, writer, or musician new ideas.

For teachers: a person or personified force who serves as the source of intellectual or artistic inspiration for a creative individual.

- The painter's wife was his greatest muse, appearing in almost all of his famous portraits.
- Critics have long debated whether the poet's muse was a real historical figure or merely a symbolic representation of his own creative drive.

### 3. Greek mythology

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic

one of the nine goddesses in ancient Greek stories who looked after the arts and sciences.

For teachers: one of the nine sister goddesses in Greek mythology, each presiding over a different branch of the arts or sciences.

- In the old story, the poet asks the Muse for help before he begins his long poem.
- The epic opens with a traditional invocation of the Muse, a formal request for divine assistance in recounting the fall of the city.

## Examples

- The painter's wife was his greatest muse.
- The poet spent years traveling through the mountains, searching for a new muse to spark his imagination.
- While many artists find their muse in nature, others draw inspiration from the chaotic energy of urban life, finding beauty in the grit and noise of the modern city.

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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.