# disappeared

/ˌdɪsəˈpiɹd/ (US) · /dˌɪsɐpˈiəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disappeared
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. went away

verb · CEFR A2

to have gone somewhere where you cannot be seen or found.

For teachers: the past tense of the intransitive verb 'disappear', indicating a cessation of visibility or presence.

- The cat disappeared into the bushes as soon as it saw the dog.
- The small boat disappeared from the radar screen during the height of the storm, causing immediate concern among the coast guard crew.

### 2. taken by force

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describes a person who was taken away and hidden by the police or military for political reasons.

For teachers: referring to a person who has been a victim of forced disappearance, typically by state actors for political suppression.

- The families of the disappeared people are still looking for the truth.
- Human rights organisations continue to advocate for the families of the disappeared prisoners, demanding a full investigation into the events of the previous decade.

Usage: Often used in the context of human rights reports or political history.

### 3. a missing person

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a person who has been taken away and hidden for political reasons.

For teachers: a person who has been subjected to forced disappearance; a translation of the Spanish term 'desaparecido'.

- The monument was built to remember the disappeared from the civil war.
- The legal framework was specifically designed to address the status of the disappeared and provide closure for their surviving relatives.

Usage: Usually appears as 'the disappeared' to refer to a group of people.

## Examples

- The sun disappeared behind the clouds.
- I left my keys on the kitchen table, but they have completely disappeared.
- The ancient civilization disappeared centuries ago, leaving behind only a few stone ruins and a language that no one can translate.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.