mull over

Meanings

1. 1verbphrasal verb

   To think about something slowly and carefully for a period of time before deciding.

   Grammar: Takes an object and can be split: mull the offer over or mull over the offer.

   Patterns

   • mull over something
   • mull something over

   I need a few days to mull over the job offer.

   She sat by the window, mulling over what he had said.

   Let me mull it over and I will call you tomorrow.

2. 2verbphrasal verb

   To keep going back in your mind to a past event or problem.

   Grammar: Often used for something that troubles you, with no decision expected.

   Patterns

   • mull over something

   He kept mulling over the argument long after it ended.

   They were mulling over last year's mistakes during the drive.

   I spent all night mulling over what I should have said.

Word forms

Common combinations

mull over an offer

She will mull over the offer this weekend.

mull over a decision

I'm still mulling over my decision to move.

mull it over

Give me time to mull it over.

mull over the options

He mulled over the options while waiting for the train.

quietly mull over

She liked to quietly mull over problems on long walks.

Synonyms and how they differ

ponder

Ponder is a little more formal and suggests deeper reflection, while mull over sounds everyday and relaxed.

think over

Think over is more neutral and shorter, while mull over suggests a slow, thoughtful process.

deliberate

Deliberate is formal and often describes a group discussing options, whereas mull over is usually personal.

chew over

Chew over suggests thinking about something repeatedly, like mull over, but sounds more informal.

Opposites

Word family

mull verb

to think about something carefully

mulled adjective

warmed and spiced, as in mulled wine

mulling noun

the act of thinking something over

Commonly confused: mull over or mull?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “mull over”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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