Mess Meaning
/mɛs/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nouna thing or group of things in a disagreeable, disorganised, or dirty state; hence a bad situation
nouna large quantity or number
Sentence Examples
It's a complete mess, and it's getting on my nerves.
The principal severely reproved the students whenever they made a mess in the hallway.
The room was in a mess.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The children left the living room in a huge ____ after their messy game.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
His bedroom was such a ____ that it took him nearly three hours to find his missing chemistry textbook.
Word Origin & History
Perhaps a corruption of Middle English mesh (“mash”), compare muss, or derived from Etymology 2 "mixed foods, as for animals". Compare also Old English mes (“dung, excrement”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Messerschmidts! A whole mess of Messerschmidts!"
— 1943 November 20, Daffy the Commando, spoken by Daffy Duck:
"I'm a mess in a dress, can't show up on time even if it would save my life. According to you."
— 2009, Andrew Frampton, Steve Diamond, “According to You”, in Believe, performed by Orianthi:
"It seems like all you do is cry, eat, and mess your diapers!"
— 2000 March 12, Tom Armstrong, Marvin (comic):
"But it wasn't right to be messing another man's sleep with tidal waves that didn't belong to the other man."
— 1905, Arthur Colton, The Belted Seas, page 76:
"At their savoury dinner set / Of herbs and other country messes."
— a. 1645, John Milton, “L’Allegro”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The children left the living room in a huge ____ after their messy game.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
His bedroom was such a ____ that it took him nearly three hours to find his missing chemistry textbook.