to wrongly think that one person or thing is someone or something else
The doctor mistook the symptoms for blood poisoning.
It's easy to mistake kindness for weakness in a competitive environment.
I hope you won't mistake my silence for indifference; I'm just deep in thought.
He didn't intend to mistake her intentions and regretted the misunderstanding.
It's common to mistake the actor for their on-screen character in real life.
