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. )

Example Sentences

A raft of nations are now reportedly mulling a similar social media crackdown.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Jimmy Garoppolo, Stafford’s backup the last two seasons, is a free agent and mulling retirement, according to McVay and Snead.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

However, while many Jews are mulling whether they see their futures in the UK, Rabbi Walker, remains hopeful.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are mulling assistance efforts as their economies continue to be disrupted by Iranian strikes and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

I stare at my shoes, bathed in green light, mulling it over.

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth