mixed
gb/mˈɪkst/ us/mˈɪkst/
A2
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
made of different kinds combined
Made of different things together.
Usage pattern:
[mixed] + plural noun / [be] mixed (with [something])
Common mistake:
Don’t use *mix* (verb) when you need the adjective: say “mixed salad,” not “mix salad.”
Synonyms
varied (Emphasizes many different types.)
|
combined (Emphasizes being put together.)
|
assorted (Common for sets of different items, especially goods/food.)
Antonyms
uniform (All the same throughout.)
|
pure (Not containing other types or substances.)
Collocations
mixed salad
|mixed vegetables
|mixed nuts
|mixed colors
|mixed groups
|mixed results
|mixed signals
|mixed with
|a mixed set
|a mixed collection
Themes
daily_life
|food_and_drink
|describing_things
Examples
- We ordered mixed vegetables as a side dish.
- The store sells mixed packs of socks in different colors.
- Her playlist is a mixed collection of old and new songs.
Learner examples
- I like mixed fruit.
- The class has a mixed group of students.
adjective
B1
property
2
conflicting or uncertain in effect
Not clearly good or bad; having different feelings or results.
Usage pattern:
have mixed + plural noun (feelings/reactions); mixed about [something]
Common mistake:
“Mixed” often means both good and bad together, not just “many.”
Synonyms
ambivalent (More formal; specifically about conflicting feelings.)
|
unclear (Focuses on lack of clarity rather than opposition.)
Antonyms
clear-cut (Not uncertain; easy to judge.)
|
unanimous (All in agreement (for opinions/reactions).)
Collocations
mixed feelings
|mixed reaction
|mixed response
|mixed review
|mixed opinion
|mixed results
|mixed reception
|feel mixed about
|a mixed experience
|mixed emotions
Themes
emotions
|opinions
|communication
Examples
- The policy got mixed reviews from customers.
- I’m mixed about moving to a new city.
- Their first season had mixed results, but they improved later.
Learner examples
- I have mixed feelings about the plan.
- The movie got mixed reviews.
adjective
B2
property
3
including both males and females
For men and women together.
Usage pattern:
mixed school/class/team; mixed doubles
Common mistake:
In this sense, “mixed” means male and female together, not “different kinds of people” generally.
Synonyms
coed (Informal; common in American English.)
|
coeducational (More formal; often used for schools.)
Antonyms
single-sex (Only one gender (e.g., a girls’ school).)
Collocations
mixed school
|mixed class
|mixed group
|mixed team
|mixed doubles
|mixed competition
|mixed changing rooms
|mixed dorm
|mixed company
|mixed seating
Themes
education
|sports
|society
Examples
- Their children go to a mixed school.
- The club runs mixed teams for weekend matches.
- She entered the mixed doubles tournament with a friend.
Learner examples
- My school is mixed.
- We play in mixed teams.
adjective
B2
property
4
from more than one race
Having more than one racial or ethnic background.
Usage pattern:
mixed-race; of mixed heritage/background
Common mistake:
In this sense, “mixed” usually needs context (e.g., “mixed-race” or “of mixed heritage”) to avoid being unclear.
Synonyms
multiracial (Direct and often preferred in formal contexts.)
|
multiethnic (Can refer to people or groups with multiple ethnicities.)
Antonyms
monoracial (Having a single racial background.)
Collocations
mixed-race
|mixed heritage
|mixed background
|of mixed descent
|mixed ethnicity
|mixed ancestry
|a mixed family
|mixed cultural identity
Themes
identity
|society
Examples
- He’s of mixed heritage, and he grew up with traditions from both sides of his family.
- The book includes interviews with mixed-race writers.
- They come from a mixed background and speak several languages at home.
Learner examples
- She is of mixed heritage.
- They are a mixed-race couple.
adjective
B1
property
5
made by mixing ingredients together
Made by putting ingredients together.
Usage pattern:
mixed drink; mixed into [something]
Common mistake:
A “mixed drink” is usually alcohol plus other ingredients; it’s not the same as a “drink mix” (powder).
Synonyms
blended (Often suggests a smoother, more fully combined mixture.)
|
combined (Neutral; simply put together.)
Antonyms
separate (Not combined into one.)
|
unmixed (Not stirred or combined.)
Collocations
mixed drink
|mixed cocktail
|mixed ingredients
|well mixed
|freshly mixed
|mixed into
|mixed batter
|mixed sauce
Themes
food_and_drink
|cooking
Examples
- Add the eggs and keep mixing until everything is well mixed.
- He ordered a mixed drink with lime and soda.
- The paint must be thoroughly mixed before you use it.
Learner examples
- The salad is well mixed.
- She made a mixed drink.
Grammar
Expressions
a mixed bag
1/ə mˈɪkst bˈæɡ/
idiom
informal
Collection with good and bad parts
Something that has both good and bad parts.
Examples
- The reviews for the movie were a mixed bag.
- Our holiday was a mixed bag—great weather but terrible food.
a mixed bag
1/ə mˈɪkst bˈæɡ/
idiom
informal
a variety of good and bad
Something with both good and bad parts.
Examples
- The new update is a mixed bag: some features are great, but others are buggy.
- Their customer service has been a mixed bag lately.
- The reviews were a mixed bag, ranging from praise to complaints.
a mixed blessing
1/ə mˈɪkst blˈɛsɪŋ/
idiom
good thing with a drawback
A good thing that also causes problems.
Examples
- Working from home is a mixed blessing: it’s convenient, but it can be isolating.
- Fame can be a mixed blessing for young actors.
- The new road is a mixed blessing for locals because it brings traffic as well as jobs.
get mixed up
1/ɡˈɛt mˈɪkst ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
become confused or mistaken
To be confused, or to confuse two things.
Examples
- I always get mixed up with left and right.
- Sorry—I got your appointment time mixed up.
- The two sisters look alike, so people often get them mixed up.
get mixed up in
1/ɡˈɛt mˈɪkst ˈʌp ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
become involved in trouble
To become involved in something (often bad).
Examples
- He got mixed up in a credit-card scam.
- I don’t want to get mixed up in their argument.
- She got mixed up in office politics and regretted it.
mixed doubles
1/mˈɪkst dˈʌbəlz/
fixed phrase
doubles with one man, one woman
A doubles game with a man and a woman on each team.
Examples
- They reached the final of the mixed doubles competition.
- I usually play mixed doubles on Sundays.
- The mixed doubles match started right after the singles final.
mixed feelings
1/mˈɪkst fˈilɪŋz/
fixed phrase
Having positive and negative emotions
Feeling happy and unhappy about something at the same time.
Examples
- I had mixed feelings about moving to a new city.
- She felt mixed feelings when she saw her old friend again.
mixed feelings
1/mˈɪkst fˈilɪŋz/
fixed phrase
conflicting emotions about something
To feel both good and bad about something.
Examples
- I have mixed feelings about changing jobs.
- She had mixed feelings when her son moved away.
- They left the meeting with mixed feelings about the proposal.
mixed feelings
1/mˈɪkst fˈilɪŋz/
fixed phrase
Both positive and negative feelings
To feel partly good and partly bad about something.
Examples
- I have mixed feelings about moving to another city.
- The announcement was met with mixed feelings by employees.
- She had mixed feelings about seeing her old school again.
mixed media
1/mˈɪkst mˈidiə/
fixed phrase
art using multiple materials
Art that uses different materials together.
Examples
- The exhibition features mixed media and sculpture.
- She created a mixed-media collage using photos and acrylic paint.
- In class, we experimented with mixed media techniques.
mixed messages
1/mˈɪkst mˈɛsɪd͡ʒɪz/
fixed phrase
Confusing communication signals
When someone's words or actions give different ideas and make you unsure what they mean.
Examples
- He's been giving me mixed messages about whether he wants to join us.
- The government's statements are sending mixed messages to the public.
mixed messages
1/mˈɪkst mˈɛsɪd͡ʒɪz/
fixed phrase
signals that contradict each other
Different messages that don’t agree with each other.
Examples
- He says he wants to help, but his actions send mixed messages.
- We’re getting mixed messages from management about deadlines.
- Her tone was friendly, but her words gave mixed messages.