verb
mull
muhl
Mull (verb) means to think something over slowly and carefully, turning it over in your mind. Example: “She mulled the job offer for a week before deciding.”
verb
1
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."
2
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
1
A headland or promontory, especially in Scottish place names.
"The Mull of Kintyre juts out into the sea."
How to use mull
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- mulls
- Third person singular
- mulls
- Past tense
- mulled
Fill the gap
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."
Synonyms
View more →
reflect
muse
speculate
contemplate
ponder
meditate
ruminate
chew over
mull over
think over
excogitate
Related words
Rhymes for mull
See all rhymes for mull →Frequently asked questions
What does “mull” mean?
The word “mull” means to think something over slowly and carefully, turning it over in your mind. In plain terms, to turn a decision or problem over in your mind for a while, or to warm and spice a drink.
How do you pronounce “mull”?
“Mull” is pronounced muhl (/mʌl/ in IPA).
How do you use “mull” in a sentence?
Here is “mull” used in a sentence: “She mulled the job offer for a week before deciding.”
What part of speech is “mull”?
Depending on how it is used, “mull” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “mull” come from?
The word “mull” comes from Latin.
How many meanings does “mull” have?
“Mull” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to think something over slowly and carefully, turning it over in your mind.
