Messy definition and meaning
Messy definition: A messy person or activity makes things dirty or untidy. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples
Definition of ’messy’
messy
(
m
ɛ
si
)
Word forms:
messier
,
messiest
1.
adjective
She was a good, if messy, cook.
2.
adjective
messy
is dirty or not neat.
Don’t worry if this first coat of paint looks messy.
3.
adjective
messy
, you are emphasizing that it is confused or complicated, and therefore unsatisfactory.
John had been through a messy divorce himself.
messy
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary
. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of messy
messy
in American English
(
ˈmɛsi
)
adjective
Word forms:
ˈmessier
or
ˈmessiest
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
messily
(
ˈmessily
)
adverb
messiness
(
ˈmessiness
)
noun
messy
in American English
(
ˈmesi
)
adjective
Word forms:
messier
,
messiest
1.
2.
3.
4.
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
messiness
noun
[
1835–45;
mess
+
-y
1
]
messy
in British English
(
ˈmɛsɪ
)
adjective
Word forms:
messier
or
messiest
Collins English Dictionary
. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
messily
(
ˈmessily
)
adverb
messiness
(
ˈmessiness
)
noun
Examples of ‘messy’ in a sentence messy
He is
going
through a messy
divorce
.
The Sun
(
2016
)
Times, Sunday Times
(
2016
)
Him’s
parents
have
gone
through a messy divorce and
find
him a bit of a
trial
.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2016
)
This messy
business
took
place less than a
year
ago
so bitterness is understandable.
The Sun
(
2014
)
The process was neither messy nor
expensive
.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2007
)
This was at a time when he was going through a messy and
public
divorce.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2006
)
The only
disappointment
is that it was all a bit messy.
The Sun
(
2006
)
The
collapse
of
empires
has
always
been a
painful
and messy business.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2015
)
Now
it
seems
destined
for a messy divorce.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2010
)
It
might
be a bit messy but it
will
be me.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2007
)
Growing
up has always been a messy business but these
days
it
can
seem
close
to
intolerable
.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2015
)
He is
famous
for messy
desks
.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2008
)
The process is messy and
costly
.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2015
)
Celebrity
divorces are a messy business.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2010
)
This was the
really
messy bit.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2012
)
Humanity
is a
pretty
messy business.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2012
)
People
exert
less
self-control
after
seeing
a messy desk than after seeing a
clean
desk.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2012
)
A messy desk can be a
highly
effective
prioritising and
accessing
system.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2015
)
It was dirty and messy, but that wasn’t it.
The Sun
(
2013
)
It is often a time of
immense
upheaval
and
worry
, when your
warm
and
tidy
home
is
turned
into a messy and dirty
building
site
.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2008
)
It’s a messy, dirty process.
Times, Sunday Times
(
2010
)
I am a
superb
, if messy,
cook
.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda
Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook
(
1995
)
Related word partners messy
Trends of messy
View usage over:
In other languages messy
British English
:
ˈmɛsɪ
/
ADJECTIVE
messy
person or activity makes things dirty or untidy.
American English
:
ˈmɛsi
/
Arabic
:
فَوْضَوِيٌ
Brazilian Portuguese
:
bagunçado
Chinese
:
凌乱的
Croatian
:
neuredan
Czech
:
nepořádný
Danish
:
rodet
Dutch
:
rommelig
European Spanish
:
Finnish
:
sotkuinen
French
:
German
:
Greek
:
ακατάστατος
Italian
:
Japanese
:
取り散らかした
Korean
:
지저분한
Norwegian
:
rotete
Polish
:
brudny
European Portuguese
:
Romanian
:
dezordonat
Russian
:
грязный
Spanish
:
Swedish
:
rörig
Thai
:
ซึ่งไม่มีระเบียบ, ไม่เรียบร้อย, สกปรก
Turkish
:
kirli
Ukrainian
:
неохайний
Vietnamese
:
lộn xộn
Nearby words of messy
Related terms of messy
Source
messy
from the
Collins English Dictionary
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
1
–
Score:
0
/
5
plain
or
plane
?
gait
or
gate
?
He opened the
and started walking up to the house.
their
or
they’re
?
Some people eat when
feeling low.
morning
or
mourning
?
currant
or
current
?
I offered him a
bun with his tea.
Your score:
Apr 30, 2021
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10