# miss

/ˈmɪs/ (US) · /mˈɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/miss
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to fail to hit

verb · CEFR A1

to fail to hit, catch, or reach something you were aiming for.

For teachers: to fail to strike, reach, or intercept a target or object. Ambitransitive — may be used with or without a direct object.

- He tried to kick the ball but he missed it completely.
- The striker missed the goal by inches, sending the ball spiralling into the crowd during the final minutes of the match.

### 2. to feel sad absence

verb · CEFR A1

to feel sad because someone you love is not with you, or because you no longer have something.

For teachers: to experience a sense of loss or regret due to the absence of a person, place, or thing. Transitive — requires an object.

- I really miss my family when I am away at university.
- After moving to the city, she found herself missing the quiet solitude of the countryside more than she had anticipated.

### 3. to be late for transport

verb · CEFR A1

to arrive too late to get on a bus, train, or plane.

For teachers: to fail to reach a means of transport before its departure.

- If we don't hurry, we are going to miss the last train home.
- The heavy traffic caused them to miss their flight, forcing them to spend an unexpected night in the airport hotel.

### 4. to fail to attend or see

verb · CEFR A2

to not go to an event, or to not notice something that was there.

For teachers: to fail to attend an event or to fail to perceive a specific detail or occurrence.

- I missed the first ten minutes of the movie because I was buying popcorn.
- The detective realized he had missed a crucial piece of evidence during his initial walkthrough of the crime scene.

### 5. title for a woman

noun · CEFR A1 · Formal

a title used before the name of an unmarried woman, or to address a female teacher.

For teachers: a formal title of address for an unmarried woman or a girl; also used as a vocative for female educators in certain dialects.

- Miss Jones is the new science teacher at our school.
- The invitation was addressed to Miss Catherine Evans, though she had recently expressed a preference for the more neutral title of Ms.

### 6. a failure to hit

noun · CEFR B1

an occasion when someone fails to hit or catch something.

For teachers: an instance of failing to strike or connect with a target.

- After three misses in a row, the player was taken off the field.
- The archer's first shot was a near miss, striking the very edge of the outer ring rather than the bullseye.

## Examples

- Miss Smith is my new English teacher.
- The invitation was addressed to Miss Taylor, as she had not yet married her partner.
- While the use of marital titles has declined in professional settings in favor of more neutral alternatives, many primary school students still address their instructors as Miss followed by their surname.

---

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.