mull

¹ American  

[muhl] / mʌl /

verb (used without object)

1. to study or ruminate; ponder.

   Synonyms:

   weigh, consider

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verb (used with object)

1. to think about carefully; consider (often followed byover ).

   to mull over an idea.

2. to make a mess or failure of.

mull ² American  

[muhl] / mʌl /

verb (used with object)

1. to heat, sweeten, and flavor with spices for drinking, as ale or wine.

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mull ³ American  

[muhl] / mʌl /

noun

1. a soft, thin muslin.

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mull ⁴ American  

[muhl] / mʌl /

verb (used with object)

Metallurgy.

1. to mix (clay and sand) under a roller for use in preparing a mold.

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Mull ⁵ American  

[muhl] / mʌl /

noun

1. an island in the Hebrides, in W Scotland. About 351 sq. mi. (910 sq. km).

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Mull ¹ British  

/ mʌl /

noun

1. a mountainous island off the west coast of Scotland, in the Inner Hebrides, separated from the mainland by the Sound of Mull . Chief town: Tobermory. Pop: 2667 (2001). Area: 909 sq km (351 sq miles)

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mull ² British  

/ mʌl /

verb

1. to study or ponder

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mull ³ British  

/ mʌl /

verb

1. (tr) to heat (wine, ale, etc) with sugar and spices to make a hot drink

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mull ⁴ British  

/ mʌl /

noun

1. a light muslin fabric of soft texture

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mull ⁵ British  

/ mʌl /

noun

1. a layer of nonacidic humus formed in well drained and aerated soils Compare mor

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mull ⁶ British  

/ mʌl /

noun

1. a promontory

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Other Word Forms

• mulled adjective

Etymology

Origin of mull¹

First recorded in 1815–25; perhaps identical with mull “to crumble, pulverize”; mull ⁴

Origin of mull²

First recorded in 1610–20; origin uncertain

Origin of mull³

First recorded in 1670–80; earlier mulmul, from Hindi malmal

Origin of mull⁴

First recorded in 1400–50; of uncertain origin; possibly from Middle English mollen, mullen, originally, “to moisten, soften by wetting”; moil

Explanation

The verb mull means to think deeply about something, the way you might mull over your choice of what college to attend. When you mull something over, you ponder or seriously consider it. You could mull over what aid organization to donate money to following a natural disaster, or mull over what to study in college. People are most likely to mull over important decisions, but you can use the word mull, almost always with over, any time you're giving serious consideration to something. A completely different meaning of mull is "to heat, sweeten, and spice," as when you make mulled cider.

Example Sentences

To the extent other leaders mull this over, many will conclude that it’s time to develop their own nuclear weapons.

From Slate • Apr. 8, 2026

Burke said each player was separated from the squad at Sydney Airport and given time to mull the offer in private.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

However, rate setters continue to mull when or whether to cut rates again this year, should inflation continue under the bank’s 2% target for a more sustained period.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

Once again, the faithfuls were left to mull over another failure.

From BBC • Oct. 23, 2025

Nothin’ so good in the world as mull shrimp with lots of onion and brown gravy.”

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Related Words

• contemplate
• deliberate
• examine
• ponder
• weigh