What does regurgitated mean?
Regurgitated is the past tense and past participle of regurgitate. In its literal sense, it means to bring swallowed material back into the mouth, a process that can happen involuntarily or as part of a bird's or animal's feeding behavior. Figuratively, it describes repeating information, ideas, or phrases mechanically, often without understanding, interpretation, or originality. The figurative use is generally negative: a speaker or writer who merely regurgitates material is perceived as repetitive, uncreative, or overly dependent on a source. It can also be used more neutrally in educational or technical contexts to describe recalling information accurately, though the implication of unoriginal copying often remains. The word is useful because it clearly distinguishes simple repetition from genuine synthesis, explanation, or independent thought.
verbTo bring swallowed food back into the mouth, or to repeat information, ideas, or phrases mechanically and without adding anything new.
- To bring swallowed food or other stomach contents back into the mouth.
- To repeat or reproduce information, words, or ideas mechanically and without adding interpretation or originality.
"The lecturer seemed to regurgitate the same notes for an hour."
"The bird regurgitated a pellet of undigested food."
"Many online summaries simply regurgitate the claims made in the original article."
A mind that only regurgitates is a parrot with excellent recall—but no original thoughts.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does regurgitated come from?
The verb comes from Latin regurgitare, formed from re- and gurgitare, a word associated with the throat or gurgling. English adopted the term in the early 17th century for the medical process of returning swallowed material to the mouth. Its modern figurative sense developed later by analogy with repeating or bringing back information that has already been learned or received.
Related word forms
How regurgitated is actually used
In its literal medical sense, it is fairly formal and is especially associated with the involuntary return of stomach contents. In figurative use, it is usually critical or dismissive, suggesting repetition without thought, creativity, or added value.
Easily confused with regurgitated
Vomit generally means to expel the contents of the stomach, whereas regurgitate can also mean to repeat information in a mechanical or unoriginal way.
Paraphrase means to express an idea in different words, while regurgitate suggests repetition without meaningful reformulation.