Puzzle Over

B1 8+

Pronunciation: /ˈpʌzəl ˈoʊvər/

Definitions of puzzle over

noun A word used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things.

Example Sentences

A1 I found a puzzle over the weekend and spent hours trying to solve it.

A2 The puzzle over the missing piece was finally solved by the detective.

B1 The students were given a puzzle over the weekend to work on for extra credit.

B2 As a scientist, she loved to puzzle over complex problems and find solutions.

C1 The puzzle over the mysterious disappearance of the artifacts baffled even the experts.

C2 He would often puzzle over philosophical questions late into the night, seeking answers.

adverb A word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb.

Example Sentences

A1 I puzzle over the crossword in the newspaper every morning.

A2 She spent hours puzzling over the math problem before finally figuring it out.

B1 The detective puzzled over the clues, trying to solve the mystery.

B2 After hours of puzzling over the map, they finally found their way out of the maze.

C1 The scientist puzzled over the data for weeks before coming to a groundbreaking conclusion.

C2 The philosopher spent years puzzling over the meaning of life.

preposition A word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause.

Example Sentences

Examples of puzzle over in a Sentence

formal The researchers continued to puzzle over the data, trying to find a pattern or explanation.

informal I've been puzzling over this math problem for hours and still can't figure it out.

slang I don't know why you're puzzling over that boy, he's not worth your time.

figurative She couldn't help but puzzle over the mystery of her past, wondering what secrets it held.

Grammatical Forms of puzzle over

past tense

puzzled

plural

puzzle over

comparative

more puzzled

superlative

most puzzled

present tense

puzzles over

future tense

will puzzle over

perfect tense

have puzzled over

continuous tense

is puzzling over

singular

puzzle over

positive degree

puzzle over

infinitive

to puzzle over

gerund

puzzling over

participle

puzzling

Origin and Evolution of puzzle over

First Known Use: 1300 year
Language of Origin: Middle English
Story behind the word: The phrase 'puzzle over' originated from the Middle English word 'puslen' meaning 'to bewilder or confuse'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the phrase 'puzzle over' has come to mean 'to think about or solve a problem or mystery'. The word 'puzzle' itself has evolved from its original meaning of 'bewilder' to now commonly refer to a problem or game that requires thought or skill to solve.