mix
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to combine (substances, elements, things, etc.) into one mass, collection, or assemblage, generally with a thorough blending of the constituents.
- Synonyms:
- fuse, amalgamate, unite, jumble, commingle
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to put together indiscriminately or confusedly (often followed byup ).
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to combine, unite, or join.
to mix business and pleasure.
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to add as an element or ingredient.
Mix some salt into the flour.
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to form or make by combining ingredients: to mix mortar.
to mix a cake;
to mix mortar.
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to crossbreed.
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Movies.
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to combine, blend, edit, etc. (the various components of a soundtrack).
to mix dialogue and sound effects.
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to complete the mixing process on (a film, soundtrack, etc.).
an important movie that took months to mix.
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to combine (two or more separate recordings or microphone signals) to make a single recording or composite signal.
verb (used without object)
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to become mixed.
a paint that mixes easily with water.
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to associate or mingle, as in company.
to mix with the other guests at a party.
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to be crossbred, or of mixed breeding.
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Boxing. to exchange blows vigorously and aggressively.
The crowd jeered as the fighters clinched, refusing to mix.
noun
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an act or instance of mixing.
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the result of mixing; mixture.
cement mix;
an odd mix of gaiety and sadness.
- Synonyms:
- formula, concoction
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a commercially prepared blend of ingredients to which usually only a liquid must be added to make up the total of ingredients necessary or obtain the desired consistency: muffin mix.
a cake mix;
muffin mix.
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Music. music or songs selected and recorded as a mixtape: a mix of Christmas songs;
the ultimate one-hour workout mix;
a mix of Christmas songs;
a DJ mix.
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the proportion of ingredients in a mixture; formula.
a mix of two to one.
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Informal. a mess or muddle; mix-up.
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Music. an electronic blending of tracks or sounds made to produce a recording.
verb phrase
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mix up
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to confuse completely, especially to mistake one person or thing for another.
The teacher was always mixing up the twins.
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to involve or entangle.
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mix down to mix the tracks of an existing recording to make a new recording with fewer tracks.
The various instrumental and vocal tracks were mixed down to stereo in the studio.
idioms
noun
verb
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(tr) to combine or blend (ingredients, liquids, objects, etc) together into one mass
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(intr) to become or have the capacity to become combined, joined, etc
some chemicals do not mix
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(tr) to form (something) by combining two or more constituents
to mix cement
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(tr; often foll by in or into) to add as an additional part or element (to a mass or compound)
to mix flour into a batter
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(tr) to do at the same time; combine
to mix study and pleasure
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(tr) to consume (drinks or foods) in close succession
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to come or cause to come into association socially
Pauline has never mixed well
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to go together; complement
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(tr) to crossbreed (differing strains of plants or breeds of livestock), esp more or less at random
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(tr) electronics to combine (two or more signals)
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music
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(in sound recording) to balance and adjust (the recorded tracks) on a multitrack tape machine
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(in live performance) to balance and adjust (the output levels from microphones and pick-ups)
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(tr) to merge (two lengths of film) so that the effect is imperceptible
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informal
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to cause mischief or trouble, often for a person named
she tried to mix it for John
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to fight
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noun
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the act or an instance of mixing
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the result of mixing; mixture
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a mixture of ingredients, esp one commercially prepared for making a cake, bread, etc
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music the sound obtained by mixing
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building trades civil engineering the proportions of cement, sand, and aggregate in mortar, plaster, or concrete
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informal a state of confusion, bewilderment
Synonym Usage
Mix, blend, combine, mingle concern the bringing of two or more things into more or less intimate association. Mix is the general word for such association: to mix fruit juices. Blend implies such a harmonious joining of two or more types of colors, feelings, etc., that the new product formed displays some of the qualities of each: to blend fragrances or whiskeys. Combine implies such a close or intimate union that distinction between the parts is lost: to combine forces. Mingle usually suggests retained identity of the parts: to mingle voices.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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mixsimple
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mixessimple
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have mixedperfect
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have mixtperfect
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has mixedperfect
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has mixtperfect
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am mixingprogressive
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are mixingprogressive
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is mixingprogressive
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have been mixingperfect progressive
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has been mixingperfect progressive
Past
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mixedsimple
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mixtsimple
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had mixedperfect
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had mixtperfect
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was mixingprogressive
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were mixingprogressive
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had been mixingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of mix
First recorded in 1470–80; back formation from mixt; see mixed ( def. )
Explanation
To mix is to combine or blend different things together. If you mix baking soda and vinegar, you can create an erupting volcano for your science project. Scientists mix chemical substances; bakers mix flour, eggs, milk, and sugar; and songwriters mix different musical elements — in each of these cases, the result is also a mix, a combination of different things into a new whole. The word mix comes from the Middle English adjective mixte, "composed of more than one element," which is rooted in the Latin miscere, "to mix or blend," and also "to throw into confusion."
Vocabulary lists containing mix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The main matinee event, however, is the nifty 1921 silent “Trailin’” featuring the great western star Tom Mix.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
Mix in perpetual futures, which never expire and allow massive leverage, and you have a spectacle that isn’t too dissimilar from watching people play an adrenaline-rushing videogame.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
Mix with pulsed chickpeas and garlic for a creamier version of hummus.
From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026
Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson has appealed for help after her car containing hospital equipment used to treat her twin daughters was "stolen".
From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026
The only thing she recognized was a rack lined with bags and bags of the Hot Mix that Laxmi was always eating.
From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.