mess with
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To interfere with.
Register: colloquial
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Don't mess with the controls. I just got everything adjusted correctly.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To diss; to put down.
Register: colloquial
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
Meaning · English
To joke around with or dupe someone, in either a friendly or unfriendly manner.
Register: colloquial
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “mess with” mean?
To interfere with.
Is “mess with” formal or informal?
mess with is generally colloquial.