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.
-
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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)
-
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.
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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
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
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the act or an instance of mixing
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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:
“We didn’t feel the mix was coming together in the way we had hoped and have decided not to pursue taking the company private at this time,” Diller said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Adding land-based resorts to the mix would give Royal Caribbean something else to sell to its roughly 9 million customers, they said.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
In August, officials also skipped a "cool mix" release designed to help protect native species.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026
The thinking behind it, though, is less about the races than about qualifying, and how making Monaco a sprint could mix up the weekend.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
I look at her with a mix of hesitation and exhaustion.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Mix together a beloved film simmering for decades, a sprinkling of social media hype and a generous glug of star power and you just might conjure up the long-awaited sequel to Practical Magic.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
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
Celebrity stylist Alex Longmore, who has worked with stars including Vogue Williams, Little Mix and Jamie Laing, said the overall vibe was "quite commercial" and covered "every aspect" of men's clothing.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
We stayed up late watching Star Wars and eating Chex Mix.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
But when water from intense rain, melting ice or a sudden discharge mixes with huge quantities of sediment, the result can become a thick, high-energy slurry capable of destroying almost everything in its path.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
"I'm not doing as much as I used to," says John Felipe, 31, as he mixes a cocktail.
From Barron's ● Aug. 29, 2026
She mixes fact and fiction into these mirages of reality where it doesn’t matter whether things are true or false.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
The results call into question the common assumption that restoring species-rich grassland necessarily requires commercial seed mixes or other expensive measures.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026
“It doesn’t end. It meets another one and pretty soon the water is back and it all mixes together.”
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
Born in Battambang, Ali, 52, is of mixed Malay, Khmer, Thai and Cham ethnicity, and was raised Muslim in a country that’s 96% Buddhist.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
This week Quentin Fottrell — aka The Moneyist — helped a reader who was bearing the main burden for caring for her mother, and having mixed feelings about it.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026
I have ended up with a mixed answer to the question.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
Acknowledging that the contest provokes "mixed feelings" in the Netherlands, the NPO said it had "explicitly asked the EBU to once again make the unifying character of the festival an important part of the event".
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
Hunks of icy snow mixed with giant rocks had been coughed up from under the ground.
From "I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964" by Lauren Tarshis
It is a whitish and scaly Tumour rais'd in the Skin of the Head by a viscous and mixt Phlegm, having its Root in the bottom of the Skin.
From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Charles Gabriel Le Clerc
Cataplasms are also made of Horse-Dung and the Seeds of Cummin beaten, which are boil'd in strong Vinegar, and mixt with Barly-Meal to the Consistence of Pap.
From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Charles Gabriel Le Clerc
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
The number was to be not less than seven, and these not to be "of the same but of a mixt qualification," constituting a select council subordinate only to the Protector and the Council.
From British Committees, Commissions, and Councils of Trade and Plantations, 1622-1675 by Charles M. Andrews
It iz hard work tew phind lazyness and virtew mixt, but thare iz sitch a thing.
From The Complete Works of Josh Billings by Henry W. Shaw
Rather than mixing chondrules and icy dust evenly, the young Solar System strongly favored chondrules in some of its earliest planetesimals.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026
If the sauce needs nothing from me, I can spend that energy making dessert, mixing a cocktail for guests, warming bread — or simply deciding which sparkling water sounds good.
From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026
Their portrayals, mixing ferocious strength with stark vulnerability, make the tragedy’s pileup of bodies at the end all the more piercing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Another suggested mixing in almond milk to make it more viscous again, but the taste was off.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
The man from the juice joint, who left the great mixing vat for no more than a few minutes, storms off to Uncle Al, convinced that roustabouts are responsible.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
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.
