missing
MIH-sihng
Missing (adj) means not able to be found; gone from where it should be. Example: “The missing dog was finally found in a neighbour's garden.”
adj
1
Not able to be found; gone from where it should be.
"The missing dog was finally found in a neighbour's garden."
"My keys have gone missing again."
"Police are searching for a missing child."
2
Not present or included when it ought to be.
"The recipe was missing one important ingredient."
"There are two letters missing from this word."
"A page was missing from the contract."
How to use missing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot where it should be — lost, absent, or unaccounted for.
Common pairings
missing person
go missing
missing piece
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Word forms
- Plural
- missings
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Can you complete this real example?
The _____ dog was finally found in a neighbour's garden.
Etymology
By surface analysis, this is miss + -ing.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for missing
See all rhymes for missing →Frequently asked questions
What does “missing” mean?
The word “missing” means not able to be found; gone from where it should be. In plain terms, not where it should be — lost, absent, or unaccounted for.
How do you pronounce “missing”?
“Missing” is pronounced MIH-sihng (/ˈmɪsɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “missing” in a sentence?
Here is “missing” used in a sentence: “My keys have gone missing again.”
What part of speech is “missing”?
“Missing” is an adjective.
Is “missing” a common word?
“Missing” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “missing” have?
“Missing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not able to be found; gone from where it should be.
What is the difference between missing and lost?
"Lost" usually means someone or something cannot find its way or has been mislaid, often hinting at who is responsible ("I lost my keys"). "Missing" simply states that something is not where it should be and cannot be found, without saying why. A missing person is absent and unaccounted for; a lost person has strayed.
What is an example of something missing?
A puzzle with a missing piece, a library book that is not on its shelf, or a person who has not been seen and cannot be located. In each case the thing is gone from where it should be and cannot be found — which is exactly what "missing" describes.
Does missing mean the same as gone?
They are close but not identical. "Gone" simply means no longer present or used up. "Missing" adds that the absence is unexpected and the item cannot be found — it should be there but isn't. Something can be gone on purpose, but missing usually implies it has disappeared without explanation.
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