verb

miss

mihs

verb

To fail to hit, catch, reach, or make contact with something.

"She swung hard but missed the ball completely."

"He missed the last step and stumbled."

To fail to be present for or arrive in time for something, such as a train, meeting, or deadline.

"We missed the train by two minutes."

"Don't miss the deadline for your application."

To feel sad about the absence of someone or something you wish you still had.

"I really miss my old neighbourhood."

"He misses his sister now that she lives abroad."

To fail to notice, understand, or take advantage of something.

"You missed the joke entirely."

"I think we missed an obvious clue."

noun

A failure to hit, achieve, or succeed at something.

"The shot was a clear miss."

A polite title used before the name of an unmarried woman or girl, or as a form of address.

"Good morning, Miss Carter."

"Excuse me, miss, you dropped your scarf."

How to Use Miss

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither failing to reach/catch/notice something, feeling the absence of someone, or the polite title for an unmarried woman.

Common mistake

Don't confuse the title "Miss" with "Ms." — Ms. doesn't specify marital status, while Miss traditionally implies unmarried.

Common pairings

miss the point miss out on near miss miss you

Word Forms

missed past tense, misses plural, misses plural, Misses plural, Mlles plural, misses singular

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Can you complete this real example?

She swung hard but _____ the ball completely.

Etymology

From Old English missan, "to fail to hit or notice," from a Germanic root meaning "to go wrong." The title "Miss" comes from a shortened form of "mistress."

Antonyms

hit strike impinge on run into collide with

Related Words

hit attack strike rock bang delete tag assault

Rhymes for miss

kiss hiss diss Swiss amiss bliss priss Weiss remiss dismiss katniss Bayliss

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