mix

1 of 2

verb

ˈmiks 

mixed; mixing; mixes

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to combine or blend into one mass

(2)

: to combine with another

b

: to bring into close association

mix business with pleasure

2

a

: to form by mixing components

mix a drink at the bar

b

: to produce (a sound recording) by electronically combining or adjusting sounds from more than one source

3

: confuse

—often used with up

mixes things up in his eagerness to speak out

—Irving Howe

intransitive verb

1

a

: to become mixed

b

: to be capable of mixing

2

: to enter into relations : associate

3

: crossbreed

4

: to become involved : participate

decided not to mix in politics

mixable

ˈmik-sə-bəl 

adjective

mix

2 of 2

noun

1

: an act or process of mixing

2

: a product of mixing: such as

a

: a commercially prepared mixture of food ingredients

a cake mix

b

: a combination of different kinds

the right mix of jobs, people and amenities

—London Times

3

: mixer sense 2b

Phrases

mix it up

: to engage in a fight, contest, or dispute

Synonyms

Verb

• amalgamate
• blend
• combine
• comingle
• commingle
• commix
• composite
• concrete
• conflate
• fuse
• homogenize
• immingle
• immix
• incorporate
• integrate
• interfuse
• intermingle
• intermix
• meld
• merge
• mingle

Noun

• admixture
• alloy
• amalgam
• amalgamation
• blend
• cocktail
• combination
• composite
• compound
• conflation
• emulsion
• fusion
• intermixture
• meld
• mixture
• synthesis

Choose the Right Synonym for mix

mix, mingle, commingle, blend, merge, coalesce, amalgamate, fuse mean to combine into a more or less uniform whole.

mix may or may not imply loss of each element's identity.

mix the salad greens

mix a drink

mingle usually suggests that the elements are still somewhat distinguishable or separately active.

fear mingled with anticipation in my mind

commingle implies a closer or more thorough mingling.

a sense of duty commingled with a fierce pride drove her

blend implies that the elements as such disappear in the resulting mixture.

blended several teas to create a balanced flavor

merge suggests a combining in which one or more elements are lost in the whole.

in his mind reality and fantasy merged

coalesce implies an affinity in the merging elements and usually a resulting organic unity.

telling details that coalesce into a striking portrait

amalgamate implies the forming of a close union without complete loss of individual identities.

refugees who were readily amalgamated into the community

fuse stresses oneness and indissolubility of the resulting product.

a building in which modernism and classicism are fused

Examples of mix in a Sentence

Verb

To make frosting for the cake, mix powdered sugar with a little milk and vanilla.

You can make purple by mixing the colors red and blue.

Mix some water with the flour to make a paste.

Noun

a new brand of soup mixes

We bought two boxes of muffin mix.

a snack mix containing pretzels, nuts, and raisins

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Rodrigo embraces distortion, but rarely outright abrasiveness, which The Breeders tend to mix into even their sweetest, poppiest confections. —Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2024

That sense of pride mixed with resentment for some when the company declared bankruptcy and finally closed. —Sophie Hills, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Apr. 2024

According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, clinical trials are mixed on whether a magnesium supplement can help the issues caused by a magnesium deficiency. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024

Burn was driven over to the mixing building with an escort. —Katcy Stephan, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024

Try them on bread with peanut butter and a pinch of sea salt (cut them lengthwise and remove the pits) or mix chopped and pitted dates with greek yogurt, curry powder, and chives for a sweet-savory dip. —Sina Petri, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2024

Scoop up vintage floral tableware at flea markets and mix them with your existing china for a boho look, or try Juliska’s Maribelle pattern, which comes in a mini floral salad plate that can be layered onto a medium-scale floral dinner plate. —Monika Biegler Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2024

Combine the vermouth and spirit in a mixing glass filled two-thirds with large ice cubes and stir until well chilled. —Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Apr. 2024

Dan Bora, Philip Glass’ sound engineer, mixed the LP, and it was mastered by Telefon Tel Aviv’s Joshua Eustis. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 29 Mar. 2024

Noun

That iteration aired for one year and brought Leighton’s Sydney into the mix as the landlord of the central complex. —Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

Our recipe blends fresh watermelon into the mix for an adult version of a summer slushy. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2024

The latest brand to join the mix is Opill, the new over-the-counter birth control pill produced by pharmaceutical company Perrigo. —Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024

In a small bowl mix 1 teaspoon of the vinegar with 3 teaspoons water. —Yakir Levy, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024

Manning the 12 open registers, a mix of veterans, brought in from across the state, guided new hires, 90% of whom are from the area, according to store leader Chase Bowman. Fernando Gonzalez has worked for H-E-B for eight years. —Noah Alcala Bach, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024

While Israeli society is marred by a combustible mix of angry and divided citizens, and despite his terrible poll ratings, Netanyahu keeps hanging onto power by his fingernails. —Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman, TIME, 9 Apr. 2024

The truck makers association estimates that a mix of a million public and private chargers would be needed to serve the number of electric trucks envisioned by the truck regulation. —Jack Ewing, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024

The Vikings have been heavily rumored to be in the draft mix at quarterback following Kirk Cousins’ departure to Atlanta in free agency. —Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, back-formation from mixte mixed, from Anglo-French, from Latin mixtus, past participle of miscēre to mix; akin to Greek mignynai to mix

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Noun

circa 1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mix

• do not mix
• mix and match
• mix business with pleasure
• mix it
• mix it up
• mix tape
• mix-up
• mix up in
• mix up with
• pick-and-mix
• trail mix

Kids Definition

mix

1 of 2 verb

ˈmiks 

1

: to make into one mass by stirring together : blend

2

: to make by combining different things

3

: to become one mass through blending

oil will not mix with water

4

: to associate with others on friendly terms

mixes well in any company

5

: confuse sense 3

mix up facts

mix

2 of 2 noun

: mixture

especially : a prepared mixture of ingredients for use in preparing foods

a muffin mix