verb

mull

muhl

verb

To think something over slowly and carefully, turning it over in your mind.

"She mulled the job offer for a week before deciding."

"He sat mulling over what to say at the funeral."

To heat a drink such as wine or cider with sugar and spices.

"We mulled some wine for the Christmas party."

"Mulled cider is a winter tradition in our house."

noun

A headland or promontory, especially in Scottish place names.

"The Mull of Kintyre juts out into the sea."

How to Use Mull

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo turn a decision or problem over in your mind for a while, or to warm and spice a drink.

Memory tip

Almost always used as "mull over" or "mull something over" when talking about thinking.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

mull it over mull over a decision mulled wine

Word Forms

mulled past tense, mulls plural, mulls plural, mulls plural, mulls plural, Mulls plural, mulls singular

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Can you complete this real example?

She _____ the job offer for a week before deciding.

Etymology

The "think it over" sense traces to Middle English words for dust or soft matter, tangled up over time with a separate French/Latin root meaning "soft" (related to Latin mollis) — the same soft, worked-over idea that gives us "mull over."

Rhymes for mull

bull gull dull pull full null cull lull hull skull scull seagull

See all rhymes for mull →