First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1mistake
verb mis·take \mə-ˈstāk\
: to understand (something or someone) incorrectly
: to make a wrong judgment about (something)
: to identify (someone or something) incorrectly
mis·took \-ˈstu̇k\ mis·tak·en \-ˈstā-kən\ mis·tak·ing
Full Definition of MISTAKE
transitive verb
1
: to blunder in the choice of <mistook her way in the dark>
2
a : to misunderstand the meaning or intention of : misinterpret <don't mistake me, I mean exactly what I said> b : to make a wrong judgment of the character or ability of
3
: to identify wrongly : confuse with another <I mistook him for his brother>
intransitive verb
: to be wrong <you mistook when you thought I laughed at you — Thomas Hardy>
— mis·tak·en·ly adverb
— mis·tak·er noun
See mistake defined for English-language learners
See mistake defined for kids
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Origin of MISTAKE
Middle English
Related to MISTAKE
- Synonyms
- misapprehend, misconstrue, misinterpret, misknow, misperceive, misread, miss, misunderstand
Rhymes with MISTAKE
air brake, awake, backache, beefcake, beefsteak, betake, blacksnake, bull snake, canebrake, caretake, cheesecake, cheesesteak, clambake, club steak, corncrake, cube steak, cupcake, daybreak, disc brake, drum brake, earache, earthquake, fair shake, fast break, firebreak, firedrake, fish cake, flank steak, forsake, friedcake, fruitcake, green snake, grubstake, hand brake, handshake, headache, heartache, heartbreak, hoecake, hotcake, housebreak, intake, jailbreak, keepsake, king snake, lapstrake, mandrake, milk snake, moonquake, muckrake, namesake, newsbreak, oatcake, oil cake, opaque, outbreak, outtake, Pan-Cake, pancake, partake, pound cake, pump fake, rat snake, remake, retake, rewake, rock brake, seaquake, sea snake, seedcake, sheldrake, shortcake, snowflake, sponge cake, Swiss steak, tea cake, toothache, unmake, uptake, wheat cake, windbreak, wind shake, youthquake
2mistake
noun
: something that is not correct : a wrong action, statement, or judgment
Full Definition of MISTAKE
1
: a wrong judgment : misunderstanding
2
: a wrong action or statement proceeding from faulty judgment, inadequate knowledge, or inattention
See mistake defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of MISTAKE
1600
Related to MISTAKE
- Synonyms
- misapprehension, miscalculation, misjudging, misjudgment, misstep, slip, slipup
Synonym Discussion of MISTAKE
error, mistake, blunder, slip, lapse mean a departure from what is true, right, or proper. error suggests the existence of a standard or guide and a straying from the right course through failure to make effective use of this <procedural errors>. mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error <dialed the wrong number by mistake>. blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame <diplomatic blunders>. slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes <a slip of the tongue>. lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause <a lapse in judgment>.
MISTAKER Defined for Kids
1mistake
verb mis·take \mə-ˈstāk\
mis·took \mə-ˈstu̇k\mis·tak·en \mə-ˈstā-kən\mis·tak·ing
Definition of MISTAKE for Kids
1
: misunderstand <It was easy to mistake her message.>
2
: to fail to recognize correctly <She mistook me for someone else.>
2mistake
noun
Definition of MISTAKE for Kids
1
: a wrong judgment or action <She was accused by mistake.>
2
: something that is incorrect <Correct the mistakes on your paper.>
Learn More About MISTAKE
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Next Word in the Dictionary: mister (noun)Previous Word in the Dictionary: mistakableAll Words Near: mistake
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