mulling

¹ American  

[muhl-ing] / ˈmʌl ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of reflecting or ruminating carefully on something (often followed byover ).

   After reading that book on simplifying life, I’ve been doing some heavy mulling and pondering.

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adjective

1. reflecting or ruminating carefully on something.

   News hound, artist, analyst, or mulling philosopher—all will find this man’s story an unparalleled feast.

mulling ² American  

[muhl-ing] / ˈmʌl ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or process of heating wine, cider, ale, etc., sweetening it, and flavoring it with spices.

   Their gourmet spice blends carry the strong flavor needed for the mulling of wines, ciders, or juices.

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Etymology

Origin of mulling¹

First recorded in 1885–90; mull ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun; mull ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective

Origin of mulling²

mull ² ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mulling

Vance is expected to run but hasn't made an official decision, and aides insist that he's still mulling it over.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

For 20 minutes I lay alone, in the dark, mulling over what I’d been told.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

Treasury is mulling dramatic changes to our nonprofit system.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

To build a more significant supply source, the university is mulling a wider rollout to more sites.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

I remained glued to the news, mulling over whether or not I should tell them what really happened to me that day.

From "Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High" by Melba Pattillo Beals

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