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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

mess with en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (colloquial) To interfere with.
    • This is what you get / When you mess with us 1997, “Karma Police”, in OK Computer, performed by Radiohead:
    • Don't mess with the controls. I just got everything adjusted correctly.
  2. (colloquial) To diss; to put down.
    • Hey! Quit messing with my brother.
  3. (colloquial) To joke around with or dupe someone, in either a friendly or unfriendly manner.
    • Don't worry: I'm just messing with you.
  4. (colloquial, qualifier:especially African-American Vernacular) To admire, enjoy, or approve of.
    • He reaches out to me on Instagram like "yo, I mess with you super heavy. I'm down in Allentown, PA - I heard this song 'No Regrets'. It's super crazy, shit gives me the chills. I got a proposal for you. Give me 6 months to get you a deal and we'll see if we can make a management situation happen. If I can't do this 6 months, then fuck it, But I want to see you in a better position because your music’s amazing, its real." 2021 July 9, Huey V (quoted), Shirley Ju, “Meet Huey V | Next up out of Milwaukee's Rap Scene”, in Flaunt Magazine, archived from the original on 12 Nov 2022:
    • You know I mess with you heavy.
  5. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see mess, with. To eat with.
    • Resolved 18. That no Guide or Interpreter whether at the Factory Depot or Inland be permitted to mess with Commissioned Gentlemen or Clerks in charge of Posts; but while at the Depot they will be allowed per Week 4 days ordinary rations […] 1836, George Simpson & al., HBC Standing Rules and Regulations, §18

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
messed with Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
messed with Tense=Past lexicographic
messing with Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
messes with Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Relateds

mess around

Synonyms

fuck with · tangle · play hob with (rustic US) · play the devil with

Translations (39)

tr sataşmak (to diss) · tr uğraşmak (to interfere with) · is blanda sér í (to interfere with) · es huevear (to joke with) · fr chercher (to diss) · nl kutten (to joke with) · sk zhadzovať (to diss) · sk doberať si (to joke with) · ro prosti (to interfere with) · no søle med (to joke with) · tr kurcalamak (to interfere with) · es bromear con (to joke with) · tr oynamak (to interfere with) · ta கலாய் (to joke with) · no søle med (to diss) · fi pelleillä (to joke with) · es meterse con (to diss) · fi pilailla (to joke with) · fi sählätä (to interfere with) · no søle med (to interfere with) · de verarschen (to joke with) · is fíflast í (to joke with) · fi temppuilla (to interfere with) · fi parjata (to diss) · sv driva med (to joke with) · sk uťahovať si (to joke with) · tr şakalaşmak (to joke with) · ro pune (to diss) · is abbast upp á (to diss) · is abbast (to diss) · fi touhuilla (to interfere with) · sk babrať (to interfere with) · ro lua la mișto (to joke with) · es tomar(se) en serio la / su relación con (to admire, enjoy, or approve of) · tr bulaşmak (to diss) · fi vitsailla (to joke with) · tr takılmak (to joke with) · es meterse con (to interfere with) · es tener una relación seria con (to admire, enjoy, or approve of)