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

Its predecessor, No Way Home, mixed up good and bad guys from three different iterations of the Spider-Man franchise for a ridiculous phantasmagoria of clanging action figures. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026

As for the alleged existence of Shazaam, there’s a lot of evidence that kids who grew up in the ‘90s might be mixing up their memories. — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026

Noun

This complicated story of mix-ups and mishaps at sea will be accompanied by the pianist and organist Ben Model, who will share keyboard duties with Makia Matsumura throughout the festival. — Tim Page, The Washington Examiner, 25 July 2026

The mix-up was uncovered two years ago when Kyle Bylin received an at-home DNA test as a gift. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 23 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