Word
amiss
US/əˈmɪs/
UK/ɐmˈɪs/
Definition
adj. wrong, bad, or not quite right. You use this when something is slightly off or doesn't feel quite normal.
adj. improper, wrong, or not quite right. Often used in the phrase 'something is amiss' to indicate a sense of unease or a perceived fault.
Examples
“Something is amiss with the car engine.”
“The manager noticed something was amiss when the sales figures didn't match the inventory reports.”
“A sense of unease settled over the group as they realized something was amiss with the carefully prepared schedule for the evening's performance.”
Examples
simple
“Something is amiss with the car engine.”
contextual
“The manager noticed something was amiss when the sales figures didn't match the inventory reports.”
complex
“A sense of unease settled over the group as they realized something was amiss with the carefully prepared schedule for the evening's performance.”
Real-World Examples
“A guard fired two shots to signal that something was amiss, but before he could investigate further, a bugle call pierced the night air.” “Only the presence of a sailor tasked with protecting Alexei by accompanying him everywhere, even carrying the boy when he was too sick to walk on his own, suggests that something is amiss.” “There was a vague feeling of unease about all of this - but it was difficult for ordinary people living nearby to prove there was anything amiss.” Etymology
From a- + miss.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/amiss