mess around

verb

messed around; messing around; messes around

intransitive verb

1
: to waste time : dawdle, idle
2
a
: associate
didn't mess around with gangs

Examples of mess around in a Sentence

spent the vacation day just messing around a guy who goes to the health club mainly to mess around with the women
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The dismantling of the Cubs in the NLDS was a statement series that the Brewers are not messing around and have the power to win their first World Series. Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025 Sean Payton's team is squarely in mess around and find out territory through three quarters. Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025 As far as home finds, pick up this fall-scented candle and a lightweight handheld vacuum to tackle quick messes around the house. Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025 Johnson mentioned that black widow bites are relatively rare, but nothing to mess around with. Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mess around

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mess around was in 1918

Cite this Entry

“Mess around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mess%20around. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mess around

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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