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misplace something
/ˌmɪsˈpleɪs/
put in wrong place
I seem to have misplaced my keys.
I cannot find my keys because I put them somewhere I didn't intend.
general
To put something in a place where you cannot easily find it again, usually by accident.
She misplaced her passport before the trip.
She put her passport somewhere she couldn't find it right before traveling.
Implies the object still exists and is likely nearby, unlike 'lose' which suggests it is gone.
Collocations
misplace keysput keys in wrong spotmisplace glassesput glasses in wrong spotmisplace walletput wallet in wrong spot
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Misplace vs. Lose
Use 'misplace' when you believe the item is still nearby or in your house. Use 'lose' when you think it is gone forever or far away.
Gold Rule
Transitive Verb
Always follow 'misplace' with the object being misplaced (e.g., 'I misplaced my phone', not 'I misplaced of my phone').
Word Origin
From 'mis-' (wrongly) + 'place' (to put in a specific location).
Usage Notes
Use 'misplace' when you are fairly certain the item is still in your possession or home, just not where you think it is. It is more specific than 'lose'.
Word Breakdown
mis-
wrongly/badly
prefixplace
to put/set
rootEnglish Dictionary