Mistaking

/mɪsˈteɪkɪŋ/

Meaning & Definition

verb
present participle of mistake; to be wrong about something or someone.
I was mistaking her for someone else at the party.
to misunderstand or misinterpret.
He was mistaking my intentions when I offered to help.
to confuse one thing with another.
She was mistaking the sound of the clock for her phone ringing.

Etymology

Derived from the Middle English 'mistaken', meaning to make a mistake or error.

Common Phrases and Expressions

mistaking someone for someone else
to confuse one person with another
mistaking it for something else
to incorrectly identify something as something different

Related Words

error
a mistake or inaccuracy.
misunderstanding
a failure to understand something correctly.
confusion
the state of being bewildered or unclear in one’s mind about something.

Slang Meanings

Mixing things up.
I totally mistook their jokes for serious comments.
Getting it wrong.
Dude, you were mistaking that guy for someone else.