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.

Outside, a group of parents sat around long picnic tables, ignoring their kids who were messing around in the dirt.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2025

He used the toilets in the Asda store where he encountered the boys who were "messing about".

From BBC • Nov. 9, 2022

“They didn’t know what they were messing with.”

From Seattle Times • Aug. 22, 2021

“At the end of the day, people were messing up a good hustle.”

From New York Times • Aug. 2, 2021

John calls out to me to throw him the ball, but I can’t stop staring at the guys who were messing with the assistant coach.

From "Adrift" by Paul Griffin