missing

adjective

miss·​ing ˈmi-siŋ How to pronounce missing (audio)
: absent
also : lost
missing in action

Examples of missing in a Sentence

The new director has provided the missing ingredient that was needed for the show's success. the missing socks turned up in the dog's special hiding place
Recent Examples on the Web Here's a look at each of the missing Wisconsin children on the list. Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2024 Monteagle, a great-grandnephew of Anna Jaffé, has spent years trying to recover his family’s missing artworks. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2024 This reveal seems to be a missing puzzle piece for the other cast members. Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 In the show, Bening plays a retired tennis coach and mother who mysteriously goes missing in the series pilot. Dan Heching, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 Few of the 125,000 missing returns will lead to criminal tax evasion cases. Julie Weil, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Human remains have been found in the search for a missing Sydney couple, police in Australia said Tuesday, four days after an off-duty police officer who is said to have dated one of them was charged with their murders. Larissa Gao, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2024 Local men were also fighting at the front and some had gone missing in action in previous battles, said Tetyana Rud, the head of the council overseeing two villages near Avdiivka. Oleksandr Chubko, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 Officers responded to a Poughkeepsie apartment complex at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, after getting a call about a missing 5-year-old boy, the Poughkeepsie Police Department said in a Feb. 26 Facebook post. Daniella Segura, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'missing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of missing was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near missing

Cite this Entry

“Missing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/missing. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

missing

adjective
miss·​ing ˈmis-iŋ How to pronounce missing (audio)
: absent entry 1 sense 1, lost
missing persons
missing in action

More from Merriam-Webster on missing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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