missing

[ mis-ing ]

/ ˈmɪs ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR missing ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

absent, not found, or lost: a missing person.

lacking: Something is missing in this relationship.

Idioms for missing

go missing, to disappear; become lost: My keys have gone missing again.

Origin of missing

First recorded in 1520–30; miss¹ + -ing²

Words nearby missing

missile, missile gap, missileer, missileman, missilery, missing, missing fundamental, missing link, missing mass, missiology, mission

Definition for missing (2 of 2)

miss ¹

[ mis ]

/ mɪs /

verb (used with object)

to fail to hit or strike: to miss a target.

to fail to encounter, meet, catch, etc.: to miss a train.

to fail to take advantage of: to miss a chance.

to fail to be present at or for: to miss a day of school.

to notice the absence or loss of: When did you first miss your wallet?

to regret the absence or loss of: I miss you all dreadfully.

to escape or avoid: He just missed being caught.

to fail to perceive or understand: to miss the point of a remark.

verb (used without object)

to fail to hit something.

to fail of effect or success; be unsuccessful.

noun

a failure to hit something.

a failure of any kind.

an omission.

a misfire.

Verb Phrases

miss out, Chiefly British. to omit; leave out.

miss out on, to fail to take advantage of, experience, etc.: You missed out on a great opportunity.

Origin of miss

before 900; Middle English missen, Old English missan; cognate with Old Frisian missa, Middle Low German, Middle Dutch, Old High German missen, Old Norse missa to fail to hit or reach

OTHER WORDS FROM miss

miss·a·ble, adjective un·miss·a·ble, adjective un·missed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH miss

midst missed mist

Example sentences from the Web for missing

Sybil is dead, as is Matthew; Gregson is missing with dark hints about his fate.

What Downton’s Fashion Really Means |Katie Baker |January 2, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Even those Christians who do want to minister amid the rancor of race and policing are missing the mark.

No Gods, No Cops, No Masters |James Poulos |January 1, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Even in the parts of the movement he does cover, some people and efforts are missing.

The Real Story Behind the Fight for Marriage Equality |E.J. Graff |December 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He was treated like an immigrant, working for minimum wage, missing his family and having to move on from his musical career.

Cuban Hip-Hop Was Born in Alamar |Daniel Levin |December 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Otherwise, we will be but celebrating an empty holiday, missing its true meaning altogether.

Jesus Wasn’t Born Rich. Think About It. |Gene Robinson |December 25, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Dacres pleaded so earnestly that he was permitted to go with the small crew in search of the missing man.

The Cruise of the "Lively Bee" |John De Morgan
These are discovered in a strip of meadow near by, one only missing.

The Death Shot |Mayne Reid
The American loss was one hundred and forty-five killed and missing, and three hundred and four wounded.

The Bay State Monthly, Volume 1, Issue 5, May, 1884 |Various
While they were absent, George returned, and with him was the missing witness, Mr. Jared Thompson.

Ralph Gurney's Oil Speculation |James Otis
The plan of the location of the wreck of the Belle of New Orleans was missing!

The Boy Aviators' Flight for a Fortune |Wilbur Lawton

British Dictionary definitions for missing (1 of 4)

missing

/ (ˈmɪsɪŋ) /

adjective

not present; absent or lost

not able to be traced and not known to be dead nine men were missing after the attack

go missing to become lost or disappear

British Dictionary definitions for missing (2 of 4)

miss ¹

/ (mɪs) /

verb

to fail to reach, hit, meet, find, or attain (some specified or implied aim, goal, target, etc)

(tr) to fail to attend or be present for to miss a train; to miss an appointment

(tr) to fail to see, hear, understand, or perceive to miss a point

(tr) to lose, overlook, or fail to take advantage of to miss an opportunity

(tr) to leave out; omit to miss an entry in a list

(tr) to discover or regret the loss or absence of he missed his watch; she missed him

(tr) to escape or avoid (something, esp a danger), usually narrowly he missed death by inches

miss the boat or miss the bus to lose an opportunity

noun

a failure to reach, hit, meet, find, etc

give something a miss informal to avoid (something) give the lecture a miss; give the pudding a miss

Derived forms of miss

missable, adjective

Word Origin for miss

Old English missan (meaning: to fail to hit); related to Old High German missan, Old Norse missa

British Dictionary definitions for missing (3 of 4)

miss ²

/ (mɪs) /

noun

informal an unmarried woman or girl, esp a schoolgirl

Word Origin for miss

C17: shortened form of mistress

British Dictionary definitions for missing (4 of 4)

Miss

/ (mɪs) /

noun

a title of an unmarried woman or girl, usually used before the surname or sometimes alone in direct address

Word Origin for Miss

C17: shortened from mistress

Idioms and Phrases with missing

miss

In addition to the idioms beginning with miss

miss a beat
miss by a mile
miss fire
miss is as good as a mile, a
miss much
miss out on
miss the boat
miss the point

also see:

heart misses a beat
hit or miss
near miss
not miss a trick

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

missing

adjective

Idioms for missing

Origin of missing

Words nearby missing

Definition for missing (2 of 2)

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of miss

OTHER WORDS FROM miss

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH miss

Example sentences from the Web for missing

British Dictionary definitions for missing (1 of 4)

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for missing (2 of 4)

verb

noun

Derived forms of miss

Word Origin for miss

British Dictionary definitions for missing (3 of 4)

noun

Word Origin for miss

British Dictionary definitions for missing (4 of 4)

noun

Word Origin for Miss

Idioms and Phrases with missing

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

missing

adjective

Idioms for missing

Origin of missing

Words nearby missing

Definition for missing (2 of 2)

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of miss

OTHER WORDS FROM miss

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH miss

Words related to missing

Example sentences from the Web for missing

British Dictionary definitions for missing (1 of 4)

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for missing (2 of 4)

verb

noun

Derived forms of miss

Word Origin for miss

British Dictionary definitions for missing (3 of 4)

noun

Word Origin for miss

British Dictionary definitions for missing (4 of 4)

noun

Word Origin for Miss

Idioms and Phrases with missing