mistake

noun countable

UK /mɪˈsteɪk/

Word Forms

singular	mistake
plural	mistakes

1
something that you have not done correctly, or something you say or think that is not correct
make a mistake:
I won’t make the same mistake again!
Don’t worry: it’s an easy mistake to make.
correct a mistake:
It’s much easier to correct mistakes at an early stage.
admit a mistake:
I wish you’d admitted your mistake earlier.
Synonyms and related words
Mistakes
fail
miscommunication
error
1. 1a
  something that you say or write in a way that is not correct
  spelling/grammar mistakes
  Synonyms and related words
  Mistakes
  fail
  miscommunication
  error
2
something you do that you later wish you had not done, because it causes a lot of problems
a big/terrible/serious mistake:
You’re making a big mistake.
a costly/expensive mistake:
The wrong choice of computer could prove a costly mistake.
the biggest mistake of something:
Marrying him had been the biggest mistake of her life.
it would be a mistake to do something:
It would be a mistake to think that the trouble is over.
make the mistake of doing something:
I made the mistake of inviting Jennifer to the party.
Synonyms and related words
Mistakes
fail
miscommunication
error
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with mistake
▪ bad, big, careless, costly, deliberate, disastrous, dreadful, expensive, fatal, grave, serious, terrible, tragic

phrases

by mistake

learn from your mistakes

make no mistake (about it)

no mistake

there must be some mistake

we all make mistakes

mistake

noun countable

US /mɪˈsteɪk/

Word Forms

singular	mistake
plural	mistakes

1
something that you have not done correctly, or something you say or think that is not correct
make a mistake:
I won’t make the same mistake again!
Don’t worry: it’s an easy mistake to make.
correct a mistake:
It’s much easier to correct mistakes at an early stage.
admit a mistake:
I wish you’d admitted your mistake earlier.
Synonyms and related words
Mistakes
fail
miscommunication
error
1. 1a
  something that you say or write in a way that is not correct
  spelling/grammar mistakes
  Synonyms and related words
  Mistakes
  fail
  miscommunication
  error
2
something you do that you later wish you had not done, because it causes a lot of problems
a big/terrible/serious mistake:
You’re making a big mistake.
a costly/expensive mistake:
The wrong choice of computer could prove a costly mistake.
the biggest mistake of something:
Marrying him had been the biggest mistake of her life.
it would be a mistake to do something:
It would be a mistake to think that the trouble is over.
make the mistake of doing something:
I made the mistake of inviting Jennifer to the party.
Synonyms and related words
Mistakes
fail
miscommunication
error
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with mistake
▪ bad, big, careless, costly, deliberate, disastrous, dreadful, expensive, fatal, grave, serious, terrible, tragic

phrases

by mistake

learn from your mistakes

make no mistake (about it)

no mistake

there must be some mistake

we all make mistakes

mistake

verb transitive

UK /mɪˈsteɪk/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	mistake
he/she/it	mistakes
present participle	mistaking
past tense	mistook
past participle	mistaken

1
to not understand something correctly
I’m afraid I mistook the nature of our relationship.
Synonyms and related words
To not understand, or to misunderstand
misunderstand
mistake
misinterpret

phrases

there is no mistaking something

phrasal verbs

mistake for

mistake

verb transitive

US /mɪˈsteɪk/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	mistake
he/she/it	mistakes
present participle	mistaking
past tense	mistook
past participle	mistaken

1
to not understand something correctly
I’m afraid I mistook the nature of our relationship.
Synonyms and related words
To not understand, or to misunderstand
misunderstand
mistake
misinterpret

phrases

there is no mistaking something

phrasal verbs

mistake for

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