mess around

verb

messed around; messing around; messes around

intransitive verb

1
: to waste time : dawdle, idle
2
a
: associate
didn't mess around with gangs

Examples of mess around in a Sentence

spent the vacation day just messing around a guy who goes to the health club mainly to mess around with the women
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
No need to mess around with bug spray thanks to this tiny machine that takes just 15 minutes to reach maximum protection, can work for up to nine hours straight, and covers a field of 20 feet to shield you from those pesky bugs. Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2024 Not only does the gin contribute pine notes that echo evergreens that blanket 40 percent of the state, but the cocktail is, like Alaska itself, both starkly gorgeous and not here to mess around. Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2024 Daemon has spent several episodes (and some completely unknowable amount of in-world time) messing around at Harrenhal and taking whatever hallucinogens Alys Rivers slips into his tea. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2024 The talent deficiency allowed the 49ers to mess around (quite a lot) but win comfortably anyway. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mess around 

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mess around was in 1918

Dictionary Entries Near mess around

Cite this Entry

“Mess around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mess%20around. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on mess around

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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