mingle
Americanverb (used without object)
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mingles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
mingled,
past participle, past
-
mingling
present participle
-
to become mixed, blended, or united.
The herbs and spices mingled to produce an exquisite odor that permeated the house.
-
to associate, mix, or interact in company with others, as at a social event.
At the party she mingled with some interesting people.
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to join or take part with others, as in activities or causes.
I used to like his blog, but he’s started to mingle with bigots.
verb (used with object)
-
mingles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
mingled,
past participle, past
-
mingling
present participle
-
to mix or combine; put together in a mixture; blend.
During much of history, noble families mingled their bloodlines and forged new alliances.
- Synonyms:
- intermix, intermingle, commingle
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to unite, join, or conjoin.
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to associate in company.
a hostess who mingles diplomats with executives.
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to form by mixing; compound; concoct.
noun
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mingles, two or more single, unrelated adults who live together.
-
a social event at which people associate, mix, or interact with others.
The Chamber of Commerce hosted a mingle for the town's small business owners to kick off their Buy Local campaign.
verb
-
to mix or cause to mix
-
to come into close association
Synonym Usage
See mix.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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minglesimple
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minglessimple
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have mingledperfect
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has mingledperfect
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am minglingprogressive
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are minglingprogressive
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is minglingprogressive
-
have been minglingperfect progressive
-
has been minglingperfect progressive
Past
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mingledsimple
-
had mingledperfect
-
was minglingprogressive
-
were minglingprogressive
-
had been minglingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of mingle
First recorded in 1425–75; Late Middle English menglen, frequentative of meng(en) “to mix,” Old English mengan; cognate with Dutch, German mengen ) + -(e)len; see origin at -le
Explanation
When things mingle, that means they mix together while still retaining their individual qualities. At a club you may hear laughter that seems to mingle with the sound of the band playing in the background. Mingle often describes abstract things, like smells or tastes or feelings. The look on your face may mingle compassion and horror when you taste your brother’s attempt at making Key Lime Pie. Mingle can also describe what you do at a social gathering when you move around a lot and talk to many different people. If you’re an outgoing person, at a party you probably like to mingle and talk to friends and also chat with new people.
Vocabulary lists containing mingle
Bless Me, Ultima
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Let's Go Caroling, List 1
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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.
See Examples For:
Then applicants need to mingle with existing members to make a good impression.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
Smoked stuffed peppers are another great option: Prepare the par-cooked rice-and-meat filling ahead, smoke a few tomatoes for the sauce, then let everything finish together while you mingle.
From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026
In another corner, guests try fragrance pairings, scents expertly paired with drinks, letting the aroma and flavors mingle through their senses.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026
Later, Charles will mingle with business leaders, including investors and entrepreneurs, at an event highlighting the transatlantic economic ties.
From Barron's ● Apr. 29, 2026
Dustfinger saw her brightness mingle with the light of the other fairies flying around and chasing one another through the branches of the trees.
From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke
Horseradish is often at its best when it cozies up to cream, like in a traditional steak sauce, or when it mingles with tomatoes, as in a classic cocktail sauce.
From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2025
“In California, everybody mingles and mixes,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 24, 2025
This was one of those highly orchestrated campaign stops where the president mingles with voters.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2024
Spanning decades and traversing the ancient Mediterranean like some deeply misbegotten Carnival Cruise, this Shakespeare play mingles comedy, tragedy and Christian allegory.
From New York Times ● Feb. 26, 2024
The smell of jasmine now mingles with his aftershave.
From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins
Social problems and public anger toward the government mingled with soccer-induced anxiety.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
The steady pulsing of milking machines mingled with a thumping musical beat as McAfee marched down the rows, pointing to their light pink udders.
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
Several fans mingled Wednesday by a subway stop near Madison Square Garden that city officials have painted blue and orange to honor the Knicks.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
Famous faithful and traitors mingled on the red carpet at London's Royal Festival Hall on Sunday.
From BBC ● May 10, 2026
Sorrow and anger mingled, forcing him to close his eyes.
From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai
The smell hits first, garlic and char on skewered meat, chiles brushed over buns, oyster sauce mingling with the syrupy edge of black vinegar on sizzling noodles.
From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026
Fans sit on plastic chairs arranged on the sandy floor, their chatter mingling with the hum of a worn-out generator.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
In this milieu, Hollywood A-listers like Will Ferrell and Sharon Stone, who occupy separate cliques nearby, pale in comparison to the mingling artistic luminaries.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
"We're at the gates of a two-thirds majority victory. Let's gear up and push for the last 100m!" he told cheering supporters, before mingling for selfies.
From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026
He was aware again of voices, of the clang of tools around him in the mud-walled courtyard, and the sharp, hot odor of metal mingling with the soft afternoon breeze off the Nile.
From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
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.
