mix up

1 of 2

verb

mixed up; mixing up; mixes up

transitive verb

1

: to mistakenly think that (someone or something) is someone or something else : confuse

mixed the twins up

mixed up the times for the meetings

2

: to mistakenly put (something) in a place where something else should be

mixed up the two files

3

: to cause (someone) to be involved in a usually dangerous or improper activity

—usually used as (be/get) mixed up in

got mixed up in an illegal scheme

4

: to cause (someone) to become involved with usually bad or dangerous people

mix-up

2 of 2

noun

ˈmiks-ˌəp 

1

: a state or instance of confusion

a mix-up in our hotel reservations

2

: mixture

3

: conflict, fight

Synonyms of mix up

Noun

• mistake
• confusion
• foul-up

Examples of mix up in a Sentence

Noun

there was a mix-up at the airport and our luggage was accidentally sent to Ohio

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Also, the texture, shapes and colors of the candy make for a fun experience to sample, pick and mix up your own bag. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026

Utah continued to mix up their rotation, and this time took out an Atlanta team that was on a serious roll this weekend. — Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Noun

The mix-up may have contributed to souring the communication between the legal teams of the companies, whose relationship appears to be increasingly frayed. — NBC news, 15 July 2026

Flav would go on to attend the Clark County Commission meeting in May to get preliminary approval for the event — and go viral for a hilarious mix-up about his name. — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mix up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Kids Definition

mix-up

noun

ˈmik-ˌsəp

: an instance of confusion