mix
verb (used with object)
to combine (substances, elements, things, etc.) into one mass, collection, or assemblage, generally with a thorough blending of the constituents.
mix
1 American
[miks]
/ mɪks /
verb (used with object)
-
mixes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
mixed,
past participle, past
-
mixt,
past participle, past (Archaic)
-
mixing
present participle
-
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.
-
-
to combine (two or more separate recordings or microphone signals) to make a single recording or composite signal.
verb (used without object)
-
mixes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
mixed,
past participle, past
-
mixt,
past participle, past (Archaic)
-
mixing
present participle
-
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
-
mixes
plural
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an act or instance of mixing.
-
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
Mix
2
American
[miks]
/ mɪks /
noun
mix
British
/ mɪks /
verb
-
(tr) to combine or blend (ingredients, liquids, objects, etc) together into one mass
-
(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
-
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
-
noun
-
the act or an instance of mixing
-
the result of mixing; mixture
-
a mixture of ingredients, esp one commercially prepared for making a cake, bread, etc
-
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
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mixabilitynoun
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mixablenessnoun
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overmixverb
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unmixverb (used with object)
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mixableadjective
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unmixableadjective
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
-
has been mixingperfect progressive
Past
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mixedsimple
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mixtsimple
-
had mixedperfect
-
had mixtperfect
-
was mixingprogressive
-
were mixingprogressive
-
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.
See Examples For:
Olsen: And people are really talking a lot about this mix of tones.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s immediate rejection of the idea brought Kushner back into the mix to see if he could resurrect a little of that old Kissinger magic.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026
Visiting the Pochaina flea market 10 days after the Russian attack, AFP journalists could still smell the mix of burnt metal and plastic hanging in the air.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
This feeding behavior may protect them from consuming excessive amounts of certain amino acids when pollen does not provide the nutritional mix they need.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 19, 2026
I look at her with a mix of hesitation and exhaustion.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Mix the dry ingredients: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cardamom and salt.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
Mix of Spanish ‘oro’ or gold and French ‘-ville’
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
Fans took in the likes of former Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards and Jacob Alon, who won the BBC Introducing Artist of the Year in 2025.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
Mix it with garlic, lemon, herbs, and a little salt, then use it on chicken, steak, shrimp or pork.
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026
“You’re sure? It was the CD that said Mix Number Four on it.”
From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi
CEO Michael Fiddelke, who took the helm in February, credited new product mixes and store updates in baby, toy and health departments, though he warned results might not remain so punchy in the new quarter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
He follows Asian Network on TikTok, watching interview clips and mixes.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
Bagged salad mixes and kits, which have been linked to previous outbreaks in the United States and Canada, were suddenly a no-go.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
Some smaller restaurants last week threw out lettuce, greens and bagged salad mixes; pulled salads and raw vegetables from menus; or only served greens like spinach that had been cooked.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
My mom’s humming in the shower mixes with the music still blasting from the streets below.
From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya
Many locals, like money changer Zapata, have mixed feelings about the project.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
Treasury yields settled mixed on the Treasury’s buyback plans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
But the ventures were met with, at best, mixed reviews and, at worst, outright hostility.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
Its record is mixed, and buying early means many of these bets won’t pan out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
“And that’s all it was, steam, mixed with a little bit of ash.”
From "I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980" by Lauren Tarshis
Both mixt at last their blood in one rich bed Of rosy martyrdome, twice married.
From The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume I (of 2) by Richard Crashaw
It is often laid alone upon the Bolsters, and sometimes mixt with the Yolks of Eggs, Turpentine, and other Ointments, or with Oils and Plaisters.
From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Charles Gabriel Le Clerc
Vesicatories are compounded with the Powder of Cantharides or Spanish flies, mixt with very sower Leaven, or else with Turpentine.
From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Charles Gabriel Le Clerc
All that was known of her situation having been sketched by Elinor, and detailed by Selina, the mixt party there assembled, was prepared to survey her with a curiosity which she found extremely abashing.
From The Wanderer (Volume 1 of 5) or, Female Difficulties by Fanny Burney
It is that which is made of a Setling of mixt and corrupt Humours, the Matter whereof is contain'd in certain proper Cystes or Membranous Bags.
From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Charles Gabriel Le Clerc
Regularly spotted around the site's shops and bars, he too has become an attraction in his own right, mixing among ravers and drinkers.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
That mixing could help magnetic fields move quickly from the surface upward into the Sun's atmosphere.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026
Instead of relying on a single provider, they’re increasingly mixing lower-priced models, including some built in China, alongside products from OpenAI and Anthropic and shopping a la carte for AI.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
Philippe the Original was in business, but Musso & Frank Grill was three years away from mixing its first martini.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth’s performance, mixing with them many instructions on execution and taste.
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
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.
