mess
noun
a dirty, untidy, or disordered condition.
messing
-
present participleof mess.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
“We’ve got to be messing up the exchange rate or something, right?” the Virginia theater fan recalls.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
Right now, however, he looks like a kid who spent the morning messing around with his friends.
From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026
Elsewhere, the recent single American Girls gained a long, trippy intro, with Styles messing around on an old analogue keyboard, tweaking low pass filters and playing squiggly synth noises.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
“I just love messing around with different instruments and seeing all the different sounds I can make,” she says.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026
There were bright lights, which he didn't like, and he was cold, and someone was messing around with his belly button, which hurt.
From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry
