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mingle

verb

min·​gle ˈmiŋ-gəl How to pronounce mingle (audio)
mingled; mingling ˈmiŋ-g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce mingle (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to bring or mix together or with something else usually without fundamental loss of identity : intermix
The story mingles fact with fiction.
2
archaic : to prepare by mixing : concoct

intransitive verb

1
: to become mingled
White and Douglas fir trees mingle with the pines.Karen Thure
2
a
: to come into contact : associate
… he mingles only with millionaires …H. J. Laski
b
: to move about (as in a group) to talk with different people
mingled with the guests
Choose the Right Synonym for mingle

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 mingle in a Sentence

The story mingles fact and fiction. Several flavors mingle in the stew. It's a story in which fact mingles with fiction. The host was too busy to mingle during the party.
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.
Behind bars, Combs has reportedly acclimated to prison life, securing a job in the chapel and even being spotted mingling with other inmates, including former NBA player Sebastian Telfair. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 25 Nov. 2025 Later into the night, the celebration moved to the hotel bar, where everyone mingled and danced to a custom playlist. Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025 Read the issue » The cast and the forlorn climateers mingled. Ben McGrath, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025 Indiana Dunes National Park's mix of dune, wetland, and forest habitats all mingle together to create one of the most diverse ecological areas in the Midwest. Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mingle

Word History

Etymology

Middle English menglen, frequentative of mengen to mix, from Old English mengan; akin to Middle High German mengen to mix, Greek massein to knead

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of mingle was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mingle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mingle. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

mingle

verb
min·​gle ˈmiŋ-gəl How to pronounce mingle (audio)
mingled; mingling -g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce mingle (audio)
1
: to bring or combine together or with something else
mingled fact with fiction
2
: to come in contact : associate
mingles with all sorts of people
3
: to move about (as at a party)
mingled with the guests

More from Merriam-Webster on mingle

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