messing

v. to spend time doing things that are not useful or to behave in a silly way.

v. to engage in idle or frivolous activity; often used with 'around' or 'about'.

“Stop messing around and finish your homework before dinner.”

“The supervisor warned the interns that if they continued messing about during the safety briefing, they would be dismissed from the site.”

Informal

v. to touch or change something in a way that might damage it or cause problems.

v. to interfere with or meddle in something, typically without permission or necessary skill.

“I think someone has been messing with my computer settings because the screen looks different.”

“The technician advised the homeowner against messing with the internal wiring, as it could void the manufacturer's warranty.”

Informal

v. to treat someone badly or be dishonest with them, often by changing your mind or making things difficult.

v. to treat someone in a deceptive, manipulative, or inconsiderate manner.

“He keeps changing the date of our meeting; I feel like he is just messing with me.”

“The agency was accused of messing people around by promising jobs that never actually existed.”

Informal