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

Wes Streeting was in Parliament with his closest advisers mulling whether he should quit the cabinet job as health secretary that he had coveted for years.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

France's President Emmanuel Macron is mulling appointing his former chief of staff as head of the country's central bank, his office said on Tuesday.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

In a discussion paper released earlier this month, the central bank said it was mulling several measures to tackle the problem.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 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

I was aware that he’d been having private conversations with friends, advisers, and prospective donors, signaling to everyone that he was mulling over the idea.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama