# milling

/ˈmɪɫɪŋ/ (US) · /mˈɪlɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/milling
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

to move around in a large group without a clear direction or purpose. You often see this at a party or a busy train station while people wait.

For teachers: moving about in a confused or aimless manner within a confined space. Often used in the present continuous form to describe the behavior of crowds or livestock.

## Examples

- The guests are milling around the lobby while they wait for the doors to open.
- Dozens of nervous students were milling about in the hallway before the final exam began.
- The airport was filled with passengers milling around aimlessly after the sudden cancellation of all evening flights left them stranded without information.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The crowd was milling the square." but "The crowd was milling around the square." — In this sense, the verb is intransitive and requires a preposition like 'around' or 'about' to indicate the area of movement.

## Usage notes

- Usually followed by the prepositions 'about' or 'around'.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.