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miss
/mɪs/
to fail to hit, reach, or catch something
She missed the bus because she left too late.
She failed to catch the bus because she left too late.
general
to fail to hit, reach, or catch something
He missed the target with his arrow.
He failed to hit the target with his arrow.
I missed the last train home.
I failed to catch the last train home.
Commonly used to describe failing to achieve a goal or reach a destination.
emotional
to feel sad because someone or something is not present
I miss my family when I'm away.
I feel sad because my family is not with me when I'm away.
She misses her childhood home.
She feels a sense of longing for her childhood home.
Often used to express nostalgia or longing for someone or something.
general
to not notice or perceive something
I missed the sign on the road.
I did not notice the sign on the road.
He missed the important detail in the report.
He did not perceive the important detail in the report.
Used to describe failing to observe or understand something.
Collocations
miss the pointto fail to understand the main ideamiss out onto fail to experience or participate in somethingmiss the boatto fail to take an opportunity
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
'Miss' is often used to describe failing to achieve something or feeling a sense of longing.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
The meaning of 'miss' can vary significantly based on context, so pay attention to the surrounding words.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'missen', from Old English 'missan' (to go wrong, lose one's way), from Proto-Germanic 'missijaną' (to miss, lose).
Usage Notes
The word 'miss' can be used both as a verb and a noun (e.g., 'a miss' meaning a failure to hit). It is commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts.
Word Breakdown
mis-
wrong, bad
prefix-s
plural or third-person singular verb ending
suffixEnglish Dictionary