Meaning & use
intermix
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Meaning
verbtransitive or intransitive
to mix different things together, or for different things to become mixed
Grammar: Can take an object (intermix the ingredients) or be used without one (the colors intermix).
Patterns
- intermix something
- intermix something with something
- intermix with something
The artist intermixed bright blues and yellows to create a lively effect.
In the city, old and new buildings intermix in a surprising way.
The two languages intermix in everyday conversation there.
Word forms
| third person singular | intermixes |
|---|---|
| past tense | intermixed |
| past participle | intermixed |
| present participle | intermixing |
Common combinations
- intermix with
- The fresh water intermixes with the salt water near the river mouth.
- intermix different elements
- The recipe tells you to intermix the dry and wet ingredients gently.
- intermix freely
- At the party, guests from different departments intermixed freely.
- become intermixed
- Over time, the two dialects became intermixed.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mix
- More general and common; use 'mix' for everyday situations, and 'intermix' when you want to emphasize different things blending together.
- blend
- Suggests a smooth, harmonious combination; 'intermix' can suggest a looser or more varied mixture.
- combine
- Focuses on joining things into one unit; 'intermix' focuses on the mixing process itself.
Opposites
Word family
- intermixture noun
- A mixture of different things.
- intermixed adjective
- Mixed together.
Commonly confused: intermix or intermingle?
intermix vs intermingle
Very similar, but 'intermingle' is often used for people or groups mixing socially, while 'intermix' is used for substances, colors, or abstract things.
Practice
The two rivers ______ near the city, creating a wider, faster stream.
Choose one answer.
The subject 'rivers' is plural, so the base form 'intermix' is correct. 'Intermixes' is singular, 'intermixing' needs a helping verb, and 'intermixed' is past tense, which doesn't fit the present-tense context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “intermix”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.