miss
- 01 A1 Beginner
v.to fail to hit, catch, or reach something you were aiming for.
v.to fail to strike, reach, or intercept a target or object. Ambitransitive — may be used with or without a direct object.
Simple“He tried to kick the ball but he missed it completely.”
In context“The striker missed the goal by inches, sending the ball spiralling into the crowd during the final minutes of the match.”
- 02 A1 Beginner
v.to feel sad because someone you love is not with you, or because you no longer have something.
v.to experience a sense of loss or regret due to the absence of a person, place, or thing. Transitive — requires an object.
Simple“I really miss my family when I am away at university.”
In context“After moving to the city, she found herself missing the quiet solitude of the countryside more than she had anticipated.”
Synonymslong foryearn - 03 A1 Beginner
v.to arrive too late to get on a bus, train, or plane.
v.to fail to reach a means of transport before its departure.
Simple“If we don't hurry, we are going to miss the last train home.”
In context“The heavy traffic caused them to miss their flight, forcing them to spend an unexpected night in the airport hotel.”
Antonyms - 04 A2 Elementary
v.to not go to an event, or to not notice something that was there.
v.to fail to attend an event or to fail to perceive a specific detail or occurrence.
Simple“I missed the first ten minutes of the movie because I was buying popcorn.”
In context“The detective realized he had missed a crucial piece of evidence during his initial walkthrough of the crime scene.”
- 05 A1 Beginner
n.a title used before the name of an unmarried woman, or to address a female teacher.
n.a formal title of address for an unmarried woman or a girl; also used as a vocative for female educators in certain dialects.
Simple“Miss Jones is the new science teacher at our school.”
In context“The invitation was addressed to Miss Catherine Evans, though she had recently expressed a preference for the more neutral title of Ms.”
PitfallExcuse me, Mrs. Smith (to an unmarried teacher). Excuse me, Miss Smith.Use 'Miss' for unmarried women and 'Mrs.' for married women. If unsure, 'Ms.' is a safe neutral choice.
- 06 B1 Intermediate
n.an occasion when someone fails to hit or catch something.
n.an instance of failing to strike or connect with a target.
Simple“After three misses in a row, the player was taken off the field.”
In context“The archer's first shot was a near miss, striking the very edge of the outer ring rather than the bullseye.”
miss vs lose — Lose is for things you no longer have or games you fail to win, while miss is for things you fail to hit, see, or attend.
Usage missed last · missed much of the campaign · miss information
From mistress.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.