miss
20 synonyms and 5 antonyms for miss, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To fail to hit, catch, reach, or make contact with something.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use miss
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English missan, "to fail to hit or notice," from a Germanic root meaning "to go wrong." The title "Miss" comes from a shortened form of "mistress."
Full origin of miss →Frequently asked questions
What does “miss” mean?
The word “miss” means to fail to hit, catch, reach, or make contact with something. In plain terms, either failing to reach/catch/notice something, feeling the absence of someone, or the polite title for an unmarried woman.
How do you pronounce “miss”?
“Miss” is pronounced mihs (/mɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “miss” in a sentence?
Here is “miss” used in a sentence: “She swung hard but missed the ball completely.”
What is the opposite of “miss”?
The opposite of “miss” — its antonyms — are hit, strike, impinge on, run into and collide with.
What part of speech is “miss”?
Depending on how it is used, “miss” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “miss” come from?
The word “miss” comes from Old English. From Old English missan, "to fail to hit or notice," from a Germanic root meaning "to go wrong." The title "Miss" comes from a shortened form of "mistress.".
Is “miss” a common word?
“Miss” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “miss” have?
“Miss” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to fail to hit, catch, reach, or make contact with something.
What is the opposite of 'miss'?
In the sense of failing to make contact, the opposite of miss is "hit," "catch," or "reach," depending on the action. If you throw a ball and miss, you fail to hit the target; if you hit or catch it, you have succeeded. The right opposite depends on what you were aiming to do.
What is an example of 'miss' in a sentence?
"She swung at the ball but missed" shows the verb: she failed to make contact. Other examples include missing a train, meaning failing to reach it in time, missing a target, meaning failing to hit it, or missing a catch. Each involves a failed attempt to make contact with something.
What is the difference between 'miss' and 'skip'?
To miss something is to fail to hit, catch, or reach it, usually unintentionally, as when you miss the bus because you were late. To skip something is to leave it out on purpose. Missing implies a failed attempt, while skipping implies a deliberate choice to avoid or omit something.
Does 'miss' always mean a mistake?
Not exactly. In this sense, missing means failing to hit, catch, or reach something, which is often accidental, like a missed shot or a missed train. It signals a failed attempt rather than a moral error, though it can imply a lost opportunity, as in missing your chance to act.