misplace

/mɪsˈpleɪs/

verb★Intermediate

informal

to put something in the wrong place, often unintentionally

She misplaced her phone and spent hours searching for it.

She put her phone somewhere she didn't remember and had to look for it.

I misplaced my wallet at the store and had to retrace my steps.

I left my wallet somewhere in the store without realizing it.

💡

This is a common mistake people make when they are distracted or in a hurry.

Collocations

misplace somethingto put something in the wrong placemisplace your keysto lose your keys by putting them somewhere you don't remember

Use 'misplace' when you know you put something somewhere but can't remember where.

From 'mis-' (wrong) + 'place' (to put something somewhere). The word has been used since the 16th century.

This word is often used when someone forgets where they put something and can't find it. It is more common in spoken English than in formal writing.

mis-

wrong

prefix

place

to put something somewhere

root

English Dictionary