regurgitate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "regurgitate" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the act of bringing up food from the stomach or, metaphorically, to repeat information without understanding or processing it. Example: "In his presentation, he seemed to regurgitate facts from the textbook without any personal insight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ian Flintoff Oxford This election is becoming increasingly blurred as the facial expressions and gestures of the combatants become magnified under the unforgiving eye of the TV cameras and the spin doctors regurgitate the views of their representatives and add their own snide remarks.

The Guardian

Seeing that gull chicks pecked at the yellow-orange dot on their parent's beak to make the parent regurgitate food for them, Tinbergen presented the chicks with even bigger yellow-orange dots.

The Guardian - Tech

There's more content to learn for each exam than for GCSEs, and you're expected to regurgitate more in less time.

The Guardian

She's conscious of her obligations, she "doesn't regurgitate a set of mantras but wants to engage in genuine dialogue".

The Guardian

If he managed to persuade Congress to regurgitate the pork in the transport bill, that would go a long way towards paying for rebuilding the levees.

The Economist

But when he gives his evidence, Mr Blair will surely regurgitate his familiar messianic-Manichean shtick, plus his view that American power is best steered by working alongside it.

The Economist

Mr Ross Sorkin is too quick to regurgitate self-serving recollections, such as the sympathy Mr Geithner feels for office workers packed into the Manhattan ferries whom he spots while jogging one morning.

The Economist

After discovering a patch of clover, a forager bee will travel back to its nest, saturated in the clover flower's odour, and will regurgitate nectar for the other worker bees.

The Economist

Dr Douglas-Hamilton's collars, however, simply record their data in memory chips until those chips are prompted to regurgitate their contents to a receiver on board an aircraft that flies over the study area once every few months.The most interesting results came from Laikipia, in northern Kenya.

The Economist

Jürgen Habermas, a philosopher, considers such evasion to be a collective failure of the political elite.The two camps instead regurgitate platitudes.

The Economist

And since they explored the ability to think deeply rather than to regurgitate information or whizz through tasks, the results matter deeply.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "regurgitate" when you want to convey the idea of repeating information without critical thought or understanding. It's often used in a negative context to suggest a lack of originality or analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "regurgitate" in formal or academic writing when a more neutral term like "repeat" or "restate" would be more appropriate. "Regurgitate" can sound too informal or judgmental.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "regurgitate" is as a verb. It describes the act of bringing something back up from the stomach or, metaphorically, repeating information without processing it. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "regurgitate" is a verb that means to bring up food from the stomach or, metaphorically, to repeat information without understanding or processing it. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and very common, often used in News & Media and Encyclopedia contexts. When using "regurgitate", be mindful of its potentially negative connotation, as it can imply a lack of original thought. Consider using alternatives like "repeat" or "restate" in more formal settings. Overall, "regurgitate" is a useful word to describe the act of repeating information without critical thought.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vomit

Implies a more forceful and less controlled expulsion of contents.

throw up

A more informal way to describe the act of vomiting.

bring up

Can refer to both physical expulsion and introducing a topic again.

restate

Focuses on repeating information in a similar way.

repeat

A general term for saying something again.

echo

Suggests a close and often unthinking repetition.

reiterate

Implies repeating for emphasis or clarity.

reproduce

Highlights the act of creating a copy or likeness.

parrot

Describes repeating something without understanding.

rehash

Implies reusing old material with little or no change.

FAQs

How can I use "regurgitate" in a sentence?

You can use "regurgitate" to describe physically expelling something, like food, or metaphorically to describe repeating information without understanding. For example, "The bird regurgitated food for its young", or "Students sometimes "regurgitate facts" without truly understanding them".

What can I say instead of "regurgitate"?

You can use alternatives like "restate", "repeat", or "reiterate" depending on the context. If you are referring to the physical act of vomiting, use "vomit" or "throw up".

When is it appropriate to use "regurgitate" versus "repeat"?

"Regurgitate" often carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of original thought or understanding when repeating information. "Repeat" is a more neutral term. Use "regurgitate" when you want to emphasize the uncritical nature of the repetition.

Which is correct, "regurgitate information" or "regurgitate knowledge"?

"Regurgitate information" is more commonly used because "information" is a broader term that encompasses facts and data that can be repeated without necessarily being understood. "Regurgitate knowledge" is less common, as "knowledge" implies understanding.