mess with

B1 informal inseparable transitive

In simple words

To touch or change something you shouldn't, or to pick a fight with someone.

Literal meaning: To introduce disorder (mess) into something you are with — idiomatically extended to interference or provocation.

Meanings

1 B1 informal

very common

To interfere with or tamper with something, often causing problems.

"Don't mess with the settings — you'll break the whole system."

Grammar: inseparable

2 B1 idiomatic informal

very common

To provoke, threaten, or challenge someone in an aggressive way.

"You really don't want to mess with her — she's a black belt in judo."

""Don't mess with Texas.""
— Texas Department of Transportation anti-littering campaign slogan, 1986

Grammar: inseparable

3 B1 idiomatic informal

common

To tease or joke with someone playfully.

"Relax — I was just messing with you. Your presentation was great."

Grammar: inseparable

4 B2 idiomatic informal

common

To experiment with or try using something, especially something risky.

"He started messing with hard drugs at university and it destroyed his career."

Grammar: inseparable

Usage notes

Extremely common in spoken American English. 'Don't mess with me' is a strong warning. 'Messing with' an object means tampering with it. Can also mean to tease or joke with someone in a light-hearted way.

Commonly used with

head system people plan emotions fire

Forms

Base

mess with

I/you/we/they

3rd person

messes with

he/she/it

Past simple

messed with

yesterday

Past participle

messed with

have + pp

-ing form

messing with

continuous

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Synonyms

tamper with interfere with meddle with provoke tangle with toy with

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