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

• combine
• blend
• integrate
• merge
• amalgamate
• incorporate
• add

Noun

• mixture
• blend
• amalgamation
• amalgam
• alloy
• combination

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

Recipe Tips For Pontoon Dip Room temperature cream cheese is easier to mix into cool mayonnaise and sour cream. —Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 25 June 2025

Six bartenders were asked to mix certain cocktails in a bid to beat the robotic system in a taste-test challenge. —Gabriel Snyder, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025

Noun

Cars 2 throws far too many characters into the mix, resulting in a frustratingly overlong and underwhelming movie. —Barry Levitt, Time, 26 June 2025

Additionally, gamers can gift Raze mix tapes that start arena battles. —Giana Levy, Variety, 26 June 2025

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 tape
• mix-up
• mix up in
• mix up with
• pick-and-mix
• trail mix

Rhymes for mix

• bricks
• brix
• chicks
• clicks
• cliques
• dicks
• fix
• flicks
• kicks
• knicks
• licks
• nicks

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