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

By June 19, the remnants of Arthur will get quickly mixed up with an advancing cold front as its remaining circulation zips eastward through Georgia and the Carolinas and into the western Atlantic, said WPLG-TV hurricane specialist Michael Lowry in an email to USA TODAY. —Doyle Rice, USA Today, 18 June 2026

Test mixes up the answer types, offering multiple-choice questions and text entry (typing). —Jill Duffy, PC Magazine, 17 June 2026

Noun

Despite a ballot mix-up by the State's vendor, the State Board of Elections (SBE) has maintained that all ballots and voting is safe. —Bryant Reed, CBS News, 19 June 2026

Jack Scarola, an attorney for the couple, said Score and Mills appreciate how news of their mix-up helped connect them with Shea's biological parents. —Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 18 June 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