mess up

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When she asks me to place a hand on my heart again, I do, repeating, “I am here. I did not mess up my kid forever. My timing is impeccable.”

From Slate • May 10, 2026

"But if you mess up on track and field, then it all goes away."

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

He started out with some basic tips: Fill the shaker with the least expensive ingredients first, so you don’t waste the expensive stuff if you mess up.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

“It still traumatizes me at read-throughs. I’m like, oh my God, oh my God, please don’t mess up a word. It was a good training ground.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2025

Furthermore, in this case we have a much more specific explanation for why introspections mess up our reactions.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell