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

See Examples For:

mulling

After nearly a month of mulling his options, LeBron James announced in a social media post that he will sign with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year $8 million contract.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

As Thompson started mulling video cover letters, she signed a newly “Human Consent Registry” to try guarding her name, image and likeness against unauthorized AI use.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

A growing mass of nations have either introduced or are mulling similar bans -- including the United Kingdom, Indonesia, the UAE and New Zealand.

From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026

The prime minister spent the weekend mulling his options, knowing he was, frankly, running out of them.

From BBC ● Jun. 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