mess
mehs
Mess (noun) means a dirty, untidy, or disorganized state of things; also, a difficult or awkward situation. Example: “The kitchen was a mess after the party.”
noun
1
A dirty, untidy, or disorganized state of things; also, a difficult or awkward situation.
"The kitchen was a mess after the party."
"He made a mess of the negotiations and lost the client."
"My desk is a complete mess, so I can never find my keys."
2
A dining area or group of people, especially in the military, who eat meals together.
"The soldiers grabbed breakfast at the officers’ mess."
"The sailors queued up in the mess for a hot dinner."
"After the drill, the whole mess sat down to eat together."
verb
1
To mess with/around: to interfere, fool around, or handle something carelessly.
"Don’t mess with the settings unless you know what you’re doing."
"The kids were just messing around in the backyard."
"Stop messing about with that phone and come and help me with the washing-up."
2
To make dirty or untidy.
"Please don't mess up my freshly ironed shirts while looking for your keys."
"The toddler loves to mess her hair with sticky fingers after lunch."
"Try not to mess up the living room before the guests arrive."
How to use mess
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA disorganized or dirty state of things, or (in the military) a place/group for eating meals together.
Common mistake
"Mess" as a military dining hall (mess hall) is unrelated in feel to "mess" meaning chaos, even though the word is the same.
Common pairings
clean up the mess
make a mess
mess with
mess hall
in a mess
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like mess.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- messes
- Third person singular
- messes
- Past tense
- messed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The kitchen was a _____ after the party.
Etymology
From an older sense meaning food served at one sitting, related to a Middle English word for a portion of food; the "untidy state" sense developed later, possibly linked to a word for mixed-up food or animal feed.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for mess
See all rhymes for mess →Frequently asked questions
What does “mess” mean?
The word “mess” means a dirty, untidy, or disorganized state of things; also, a difficult or awkward situation. In plain terms, a disorganized or dirty state of things, or (in the military) a place/group for eating meals together.
How do you pronounce “mess”?
“Mess” is pronounced mehs (/mɛs/ in IPA).
How do you use “mess” in a sentence?
Here is “mess” used in a sentence: “The kitchen was a mess after the party.”
What part of speech is “mess”?
Depending on how it is used, “mess” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “mess” come from?
The word “mess” comes from Middle English. From an older sense meaning food served at one sitting, related to a Middle English word for a portion of food; the "untidy state" sense developed later, possibly linked to a word for mixed-up food or animal feed.
Is “mess” a common word?
“Mess” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “mess” have?
“Mess” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dirty, untidy, or disorganized state of things; also, a difficult or awkward situation.
What is the difference between a mess and clutter?
Clutter is simply too many things left lying around, crowding a space. A mess is broader and often dirtier — it can involve spills, disorder, or chaos, not just excess objects. All clutter looks messy, but a mess can also mean a confusing or troublesome situation, which clutter never does.
Can 'mess' mean a situation, not just a physical state?
Yes. Beyond describing an untidy room, 'mess' often means a difficult, confused, or awkward situation, as in 'the project is in a real mess.' Here it points to problems and disorder in circumstances or plans rather than literal dirt or scattered objects.
Is 'mess' a negative word?
Generally, yes. It suggests untidiness, disorder, or trouble, all of which are unwanted. However, it can be affectionate or light-hearted in casual speech — calling a lovable but chaotic person 'a hot mess', for example — where the tone softens the criticism considerably.
What is the opposite of a mess?
The opposite is order or tidiness. A neat, clean, well-organised space is the reverse of a mess, and a smoothly running situation is the opposite of a mess in the figurative sense. Words like 'order', 'neatness', and 'tidiness' capture the contrast well.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include mess:
