adj

amiss

uh-MIHS

Amiss (adj) means Wrong or out of order in some way. Example: “She sensed something was amiss the moment she walked in.”

adj

Wrong or out of order in some way.

"She sensed something was amiss the moment she walked in."

adv

In a mistaken or improper way.

"Nothing you said was taken amiss."

How to use amiss

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsed to say something seems wrong or not quite right.

Common mistake

Almost always used after "something," "nothing," or "anything" — "something amiss," rarely as a standalone adjective before a noun.

Common pairings

something amiss nothing amiss take it amiss

more amiss comparative, most amiss superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

She sensed something was _____ the moment she walked in.

From "a-" plus "miss," originally meaning "off target" or "astray."

awry imperfectly

badly awry imperfectly askew

What does “amiss” mean?

The word “amiss” means wrong or out of order in some way. In plain terms, used to say something seems wrong or not quite right.

How do you pronounce “amiss”?

“Amiss” is pronounced uh-MIHS (/əˈmɪs/ in IPA).

How do you use “amiss” in a sentence?

Here is “amiss” used in a sentence: “She sensed something was amiss the moment she walked in.”

What part of speech is “amiss”?

Depending on how it is used, “amiss” can be an adjective and an adverb.

How many meanings does “amiss” have?

“Amiss” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: wrong or out of order in some way.

badly awry imperfectly askew