mistake

1 of 2

verb

mis·take mə-ˈstāk How to pronounce mistake (audio)

mistook mə-ˈstu̇k How to pronounce mistake (audio)

; mistaken mə-ˈstā-kən How to pronounce mistake (audio)

; mistaking

transitive verb

: to blunder in the choice of

mistook her way in the dark

: to misunderstand the meaning or intention of : misinterpret

don't mistake me, I mean exactly what I said

: to make a wrong judgment of the character or ability of

The army's leaders mistook the strength of the enemy.

: 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

mistakenly adverb

mistaker noun

mistake

2 of 2

noun

: a wrong judgment : misunderstanding

: a wrong action or statement proceeding from faulty judgment, inadequate knowledge, or inattention

Example Sentences

Verb the auctioneer mistook my nod for a bid, and I ended up buying a painting I don't even like you seriously mistake me if you think I scare so easily Noun It would be a mistake to assume that we can rely on their help. There must be some mistake. The manuscript contains numerous spelling mistakes. There's a mistake in the schedule. “When does the movie start?” “At 8:00. No, wait—my mistake—it starts at 8:30.” See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Stories are often about a handful of poisonous varieties that people regularly mistake for edible mushrooms.

Matt Kasson, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 Cons: Not many people will mistake laminate flooring for real wood or stone.

Dan Diclerico, Good Housekeeping, 12 Aug. 2022 The case has received widespread attention on social media, where commenters have questioned how officers could mistake the actuator for a weapon and why police were slow to acknowledge that Petit was not armed.

Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2022 Journalists who assert otherwise not only mistake their opinion for facts but foment fears that brain death is a tool for overeager transplant surgeons, cost-conscious hospitals or windfall-seeking heirs.

Michael Stanley, WSJ, 22 Aug. 2022 Sometimes people mistake one’s kindness for weakness and try to take advantage of their giving heart.

Okla Jones, Essence, 29 July 2022 In an episode full of lasts, this seems like another one: the last time anyone in Albuquerque, or perhaps in the audience, will ever mistake the one identity for the other.

Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2022 Did Elvis really mistake an overzealous fan for an assassination attempt?

Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 26 June 2022 Such a conclusion, however, would mistake the nature of business.

Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 20 June 2022

Noun

This summer the Justices reversed that mistake in Dobbs, and the result has been hurly-burly democratic arguments in state legislatures.

The Editorial Board, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 Trying to work only with people who are in absolute agreement with you, that’s a mistake.

Kk Ottesen, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2022 Of course, those withdrawals can be made at any time of the year, but many people leave it to the last minute, which could be an expensive mistake.

Terry Savage, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 That was a mistake made in the past, by the previous front office, but there’s no time for that now.

Gregg Doyel, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2022 Coach John Harbaugh’s biggest mistake was allowing Jackson to throw that interception late in the game, which was a meaningless play in one regard, but eventually led to the injury of cornerback Kyle Fuller.

Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 11 Sep. 2022 Newgarden had gone off course in a sloppy qualifying mistake that forced him to start 25th in the 26-driver field.

Jenna Fryer, ajc, 11 Sep. 2022 French power distributor Electricite de Strasbourg SA oversold large quantities of electricity due to trading errors earlier this week, a mistake that could cost the company 60 million euros ($60.3 million).

Gaspard Sebag, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2022 Pro-Kremlin political analyst Sergei Markov criticized the festivities in Moscow as a grave political mistake.

Karl Ritter And Hanna Arhirova, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2022 See More

Legal Definition

mistake

noun

mis·take

: an unintentional error especially in legal procedure or form that does not indicate bad faith and that commonly warrants excuse or relief by the court

the court's power to revise a judgment because of fraud, mistake, or irregularity

a clerical mistake

: an erroneous belief: as

: a state of mind that is not in accordance with the facts existing at the time a contract is made and that may be a ground for the rescission or reformation of the contract

: a misconception at the time of an offense alleged by a defendant

— mistake of fact

: a mistake regarding a fact or facts especially that significantly affects the performance of a contract

: a criminal defense that attempts to eliminate culpability on the ground that the defendant operated from an unintentional misunderstanding of fact rather than from a criminal purpose

— mistake of law

: a mistake involving the misunderstanding or incorrect application of law in regard to an act, contract, transaction, determination, or state of affairs

also : a criminal defense alleging such a mistake

Note: In both contract and criminal law a mistake of law is a weaker ground for relief or acquittal than a mistake of fact.

— mutual mistake

: a mistake common to both parties to a contract who were in agreement about the purpose or terms of the contract reformed the contract because of a mutual mistake

— unilateral mistake

: a mistake on the part of one party to a contract that is usually not a ground for rescission or reformation unless one party stands to profit or benefit improperly from the mistake

mistake 1 of 2

noun

as in blunder

a wrong judgment they made a mistake when they thought the young pitcher was ready to be called up to the major leagues

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

blunder
error
misjudgment
miscalculation
misstep
misjudging
trip
misunderstanding
slipup
misapprehension
slip
flub
stumble
fault
inaccuracy
miscue
goof
fumble
gaffe
misstatement
errancy
misinterpretation
lapse
misconception
misconstruction
misconstruing
boob
foul-up
muff
clinker
misimpression
boner
misprision

as in error

an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy made a mistake on the exam that almost cost her a passing grade

Synonyms & Similar Words

blunder
error
stumble
fumble
fault
trip
misstep
flub
inaccuracy
miscue
goof
gaffe
screwup
slipup
brick
gaff
slip
misunderstanding
lapse
bobble
boo-boo
clanger
oversight
boob
clinker
fluff
misjudgment
blooper
miscalculation
snafu
misreading
misstatement
pratfall
howler
misinterpretation
misconception
misconstruction
bloomer
miscomprehension
misapprehension
misimpression
misdescription
foul-up
boner

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

accuracy
precision
correctness
exactness
preciseness
strictness
perfection
infallibility
exactitude
inerrancy

mistake

2 of 2

verb

as in to misunderstand

to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of the auctioneer mistook my nod for a bid, and I ended up buying a painting I don't even like

Synonyms & Similar Words

misunderstand
misread
miss
misconstrue
misinterpret
misapprehend
misjudge
misperceive
misconceive
misknow
mishear
misdeem

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

know
understand
appreciate
see
catch
perceive
comprehend
get
grasp
apprehend
make out
seize
fathom
conceive
take in
penetrate
savvy
grok

as in to underestimate

to make an incorrect judgment regarding you seriously mistake me if you think I scare so easily

Synonyms & Similar Words

misunderstand
underestimate
misjudge
miscalculate
misconceive
mismeasure
misestimate
misdeem
misconstrue
misapprehend
overestimate
misgauge
misperceive
miscount
misinterpret
undervalue
misknow
underrate
overrate
misreckon
overvalue
misesteem

as in to confuse

to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related she mistook physical attraction for love

Synonyms & Similar Words

confuse
conflate
misidentify
confound
misname
miscall
misapply
mix (up)
lump (together)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

difference
distinguish
separate
differentiate
discriminate

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of mistake are blunder, error, lapse, and slip. While all these words mean "a departure from what is true, right, or proper," mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error.

dialed the wrong number by mistake

The words blunder and mistake can be used in similar contexts, but blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame.

diplomatic blunders

The synonyms error and mistake are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

While in some cases nearly identical to mistake, lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause.

a lapse in judgment

The words slip and mistake are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes.

a slip of the tongue

单词	mistake
释义	mistake 1 of 2 verb mis·take mə-ˈstāk mistook mə-ˈstu̇k ; mistaken mə-ˈstā-kən ; mistaking 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 The army's leaders mistook the strength of the enemy. 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 mistakenly adverb mistaker noun mistake 2 of 2 noun 1 : a wrong judgment : misunderstanding 2 : a wrong action or statement proceeding from faulty judgment, inadequate knowledge, or inattention Synonyms Verb misapprehend misconstrue misinterpret misknow misperceive misread miss misunderstand Noun misapprehension miscalculation misjudging misjudgment misstep slip slipup See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb the auctioneer mistook my nod for a bid, and I ended up buying a painting I don't even like you seriously mistake me if you think I scare so easily Noun It would be a mistake to assume that we can rely on their help. There must be some mistake. The manuscript contains numerous spelling mistakes. There's a mistake in the schedule. “When does the movie start?” “At 8:00. No, wait—my mistake—it starts at 8:30.” See More Recent Examples on the Web Verb Stories are often about a handful of poisonous varieties that people regularly mistake for edible mushrooms. Matt Kasson, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 Cons: Not many people will mistake laminate flooring for real wood or stone. Dan Diclerico, Good Housekeeping, 12 Aug. 2022 The case has received widespread attention on social media, where commenters have questioned how officers could mistake the actuator for a weapon and why police were slow to acknowledge that Petit was not armed. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2022 Journalists who assert otherwise not only mistake their opinion for facts but foment fears that brain death is a tool for overeager transplant surgeons, cost-conscious hospitals or windfall-seeking heirs. Michael Stanley, WSJ, 22 Aug. 2022 Sometimes people mistake one’s kindness for weakness and try to take advantage of their giving heart. Okla Jones, Essence, 29 July 2022 In an episode full of lasts, this seems like another one: the last time anyone in Albuquerque, or perhaps in the audience, will ever mistake the one identity for the other. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2022 Did Elvis really mistake an overzealous fan for an assassination attempt? Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 26 June 2022 Such a conclusion, however, would mistake the nature of business. Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 20 June 2022 Noun This summer the Justices reversed that mistake in Dobbs, and the result has been hurly-burly democratic arguments in state legislatures. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 Trying to work only with people who are in absolute agreement with you, that’s a mistake. Kk Ottesen, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2022 Of course, those withdrawals can be made at any time of the year, but many people leave it to the last minute, which could be an expensive mistake. Terry Savage, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 That was a mistake made in the past, by the previous front office, but there’s no time for that now. Gregg Doyel, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2022 Coach John Harbaugh’s biggest mistake was allowing Jackson to throw that interception late in the game, which was a meaningless play in one regard, but eventually led to the injury of cornerback Kyle Fuller. Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 11 Sep. 2022 Newgarden had gone off course in a sloppy qualifying mistake that forced him to start 25th in the 26-driver field. Jenna Fryer, ajc, 11 Sep. 2022 French power distributor Electricite de Strasbourg SA oversold large quantities of electricity due to trading errors earlier this week, a mistake that could cost the company 60 million euros ($60.3 million). Gaspard Sebag, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2022 Pro-Kremlin political analyst Sergei Markov criticized the festivities in Moscow as a grave political mistake. Karl Ritter And Hanna Arhirova, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Verb and Noun Middle English First Known Use Verb 14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Noun 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing mistake by mistake honest mistake and no mistake make no mistake by mistake honest mistake and no mistake make no mistake Kids Definition mistake 1 of 2 verb mis·take mə-ˈstāk mistook mə-ˈstu̇k ; mistaken mə-ˈstā-kən ; mistaking 1 : misunderstand It was easy to mistake her message. 2 : to fail to recognize correctly She mistook me for someone else. mistake 2 of 2 noun 1 : a wrong judgment or action She was accused by mistake. 2 : something that is incorrect Correct the mistakes on your paper. Legal Definition mistake noun mis·take 1 : an unintentional error especially in legal procedure or form that does not indicate bad faith and that commonly warrants excuse or relief by the court the court's power to revise a judgment because of fraud, mistake, or irregularity a clerical mistake 2 : an erroneous belief: as a : a state of mind that is not in accordance with the facts existing at the time a contract is made and that may be a ground for the rescission or reformation of the contract b : a misconception at the time of an offense alleged by a defendant — mistake of fact : a mistake regarding a fact or facts especially that significantly affects the performance of a contract : a criminal defense that attempts to eliminate culpability on the ground that the defendant operated from an unintentional misunderstanding of fact rather than from a criminal purpose — mistake of law : a mistake involving the misunderstanding or incorrect application of law in regard to an act, contract, transaction, determination, or state of affairs also : a criminal defense alleging such a mistake Note: In both contract and criminal law a mistake of law is a weaker ground for relief or acquittal than a mistake of fact. — mutual mistake : a mistake common to both parties to a contract who were in agreement about the purpose or terms of the contract reformed the contract because of a mutual mistake — unilateral mistake : a mistake on the part of one party to a contract that is usually not a ground for rescission or reformation unless one party stands to profit or benefit improperly from the mistake mistake 1 of 2 noun 1 as in blunder a wrong judgment they made a mistake when they thought the young pitcher was ready to be called up to the major leagues Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance blunder error misjudgment miscalculation misstep misjudging trip misunderstanding slipup misapprehension slip flub stumble fault inaccuracy miscue goof fumble gaffe misstatement errancy misinterpretation lapse misconception misconstruction misconstruing boob foul-up muff clinker misimpression boner misprision 2 as in error an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy made a mistake on the exam that almost cost her a passing grade Synonyms & Similar Words blunder error stumble fumble fault trip misstep flub inaccuracy miscue goof gaffe screwup slipup brick gaff slip misunderstanding lapse bobble boo-boo clanger oversight boob clinker fluff misjudgment blooper miscalculation snafu misreading misstatement pratfall howler misinterpretation misconception misconstruction bloomer miscomprehension misapprehension misimpression misdescription foul-up boner Antonyms & Near Antonyms accuracy precision correctness exactness preciseness strictness perfection infallibility exactitude inerrancy See More mistake 2 of 2 verb 1 as in to misunderstand to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of the auctioneer mistook my nod for a bid, and I ended up buying a painting I don't even like Synonyms & Similar Words misunderstand misread miss misconstrue misinterpret misapprehend misjudge misperceive misconceive misknow mishear misdeem Antonyms & Near Antonyms know understand appreciate see catch perceive comprehend get grasp apprehend make out seize fathom conceive take in penetrate savvy grok See More 2 as in to underestimate to make an incorrect judgment regarding you seriously mistake me if you think I scare so easily Synonyms & Similar Words misunderstand underestimate misjudge miscalculate misconceive mismeasure misestimate misdeem misconstrue misapprehend overestimate misgauge misperceive miscount misinterpret undervalue misknow underrate overrate misreckon overvalue misesteem 3 as in to confuse to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related she mistook physical attraction for love Synonyms & Similar Words confuse conflate misidentify confound misname miscall misapply mix (up) lump (together) Antonyms & Near Antonyms difference distinguish separate differentiate discriminate Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of mistake are blunder, error, lapse, and slip. While all these words mean "a departure from what is true, right, or proper," mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error. dialed the wrong number by mistake The words blunder and mistake can be used in similar contexts, but blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame. diplomatic blunders The synonyms error and mistake are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 While in some cases nearly identical to mistake, lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause. a lapse in judgment The words slip and mistake are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes. a slip of the tongue
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mistake

verb

noun

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing mistake

Kids Definition

verb

noun

Legal Definition

noun

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser