noun
mire
MEYE-uh
Mire (noun) means an area of deep, soft mud or wet, boggy ground. Example: “Their boots sank deep into the mire as they crossed the marsh.”
noun
1
An area of deep, soft mud or wet, boggy ground.
"Their boots sank deep into the mire as they crossed the marsh."
2
A difficult or messy situation.
"The company was dragged into a legal mire that lasted years."
verb
1
To become stuck, as if in mud.
"Talks were mired in disagreement for months."
How to use mire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWet, sticky mud, or — figuratively — being stuck in a messy problem.
Common pairings
mired in mud
mired in controversy
mired in debt
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Word forms
- Plural
- mires
- Third person singular
- mires
- Past tense
- mired
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Their boots sank deep into the _____ as they crossed the marsh.
Etymology
From Old Norse mýrr ("bog, swamp"), related to Old English mos, the source of "moss."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for mire
See all rhymes for mire →Frequently asked questions
What does “mire” mean?
The word “mire” means an area of deep, soft mud or wet, boggy ground. In plain terms, wet, sticky mud, or — figuratively — being stuck in a messy problem.
How do you pronounce “mire”?
“Mire” is pronounced MEYE-uh (/ˈmaɪɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “mire” in a sentence?
Here is “mire” used in a sentence: “Their boots sank deep into the mire as they crossed the marsh.”
What part of speech is “mire”?
Depending on how it is used, “mire” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “mire” come from?
The word “mire” comes from Old English. From Old Norse mýrr ("bog, swamp"), related to Old English mos, the source of "moss.".
How many meanings does “mire” have?
“Mire” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an area of deep, soft mud or wet, boggy ground.
