mess with

phrasal-verb
UK: /mes wɪð/
US: /mes wɪθ/

  1. To interfere with or handle something without permission or in a way that is not careful.

    1. Don't mess with my phone. [ ] [ ]
    2. I told him not to mess with the controls because they are very sensitive. [ ] [ ]

  2. To tease, annoy, or provoke someone, often playfully.

    1. Stop messing with me! [ ] [ ]
    2. My brother likes to mess with me, but I know he's just joking. [ ] [ ]

  3. To get involved in something that is dangerous or illegal.

    1. Don't mess with those guys. [ ] [ ]
    2. He got into trouble for messing with the wrong crowd downtown. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

interfere tamper bother annoy provoke meddle

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "mess with" in English means: To interfere with or handle something without permission or in a way that is not careful., To tease, annoy, or provoke someone, often playfully., To get involved in something that is dangerous or illegal..

The phonetic transcription of "mess with" is /mes wɪð/ in British English and /mes wɪθ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "mess with": interfere, tamper, bother, annoy, provoke, meddle.

Example usage of "mess with": "Don't mess with my phone.". More examples on the page.