# mess

/ˈmɛs/ (US) · /mˈɛs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mess
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. untidiness

noun · CEFR A2

a dirty or untidy state where things are not in their proper places.

For teachers: a state of physical disorder, dirtiness, or lack of organisation.

- The kids left a huge mess in the living room after playing with their toys.
- The construction crew left a significant mess on the site, with debris and discarded materials scattered across the lawn.

### 2. a difficult situation

noun · CEFR B1

a difficult or confused situation that is hard to solve.

For teachers: a state of confusion or difficulty, often resulting from mismanagement or poor decisions.

- The company's finances are in a real mess after the recent scandal.
- The legal team spent months trying to untangle the mess created by the previous administration's conflicting policies.

### 3. military dining

noun · CEFR B2

a place where people in the military eat together.

For teachers: a communal dining room or building, specifically for military personnel or members of a similar organisation.

- The officers gathered in the mess for dinner at six o'clock.
- Discussions in the officers' mess were strictly informal, allowing for a degree of socialising outside the rigid hierarchy of the base.

### 4. an emotional wreck

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

someone who is very upset or confused and cannot think clearly.

For teachers: a person in a state of severe emotional or mental distress.

- I was a total mess after I lost my job and my car broke down.
- She was an absolute mess during the first week of the divorce proceedings, struggling to maintain her professional composure.

### 5. to make untidy

verb · CEFR B1

to make something dirty or untidy.

For teachers: to cause a state of disorder or dirtiness; often used with the particle 'up'.

- Don't mess the floor with your muddy boots.
- The wind quickly messed her hair as soon as she stepped out of the salon onto the street.

Usage: Often used as the phrasal verb 'mess up'.

### 6. to interfere

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to interfere with something or try to change it when you should not.

For teachers: to interfere or meddle with something, typically in a way that causes damage or confusion.

- You shouldn't mess with the settings on my computer.
- The technician warned the staff not to mess with the wiring until the safety inspection was complete.

Usage: Usually takes the preposition 'with'.

## Examples

- The kitchen is a total mess after baking that cake.
- I tried to fix the plumbing myself, but I just made a huge mess and had to call a professional.
- The legal team spent months untangling the mess created by the previous administration's failure to document their internal communications properly.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.