puzzle over

verb

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

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Meanings

verbpuzzle over (third-person singular simple present puzzles over, present participle puzzling over, simple past and past participle puzzled over)

present singular third person puzzles over · participle present puzzling over · participle past puzzled over · past puzzled over

  1. idiomaticinformalTo think intensely and deeply about a confusing problem, situation, or question in an effort to understand it or to find a solution.
Cite this entry
APA

puzzle over. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/puzzle%20over

MLA

“puzzle over.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/puzzle%20over. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “puzzle over,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/puzzle%20over.

Source: puzzle over on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.