miss

MIS/mɪs/

Verbmisses, missing, missed

Noun pluralmisses

Often confused with lose

25 meanings of miss

Practice

1
not experienceverbtransitive
To not go to or take part in something, like an event or a chance.
Like staying home while everyone else goes to the party.
I don't want to miss the concert this weekend.
She missed three classes while she was sick.
UsageSay miss a class, or miss seeing something.
Similarskip, forgo
Oppositeattend, catch, seize
2
want backverbtransitive
To feel sad because someone or something you care about is not with you.
Like an empty chair at the table that reminds you someone is gone.
I really miss my best friend since she moved to Texas.
The children missed their old school after the move.
Similarpine, long, yearn
Note
3
not noticeverbtransitive
To not see or notice something.
Like walking right past a friend without seeing them.
I missed your message because my phone was off.
Read carefully so you don't miss any mistakes.
UsageYou can't miss it means it is easy to see.
Similaroverlook
Oppositenotice, spot, catch, detect
4
late forverbtransitive
To arrive too late to catch a bus, train, or to meet a time limit.
Like running up to a door just as it shuts in front of you.
We missed the train by just two minutes.
Hurry, or you'll miss the bus to school.
UsageYou miss or catch a bus.
Oppositecatch, make, meet
5
fail to hitverbtransitive or intransitive
To not hit, catch, or score with something you aim at or reach for.
Like reaching for a doorknob in the dark and grabbing only air.
She threw the ball but missed the basket completely.
If you swing too early, you might miss the ball.
UsageSay missed the ball, or missed by a little.
Oppositehit, catch, score
Note
6
not achieveverbtransitive
To not reach a goal or result you were trying for.
Like aiming an arrow at a target and landing just short of it.
The company missed its sales target this year.
Work hard so you don't miss your goal.
UsageSay miss a goal or miss a target.
Oppositemake, reach, achieve
7
polite titlenouncountable or uncountable
A polite word used before an unmarried woman's name, or to speak to a woman or female teacher.
Like 'Mrs.', but used for a woman who has not married.
Good morning, Miss Carter, your appointment is ready.
Excuse me, miss, you dropped your scarf.
UsageSay Miss Carter, or just miss. Ms works for any woman.
Note
8
not graspverbtransitive
To not understand the meaning of something.
Like hearing words in a language you don't know.
I think I missed the point of that joke.
If you read too fast, you might miss the main idea.
UsageMiss the point means not understand the main idea.
Similaroverlook, misread
Oppositecatch
Note
9
not thereverbintransitive
To not be there, or to not have something that should be there.
Note

Less common meanings

10
a failed shotnouncountable
An attempt to hit something that does not connect.
Like throwing a paper ball at the trash can and watching it land on the floor.
His first shot was a clear miss.
After several misses, she finally hit the bullseye.
UsageA near miss almost hits.
Oppositehit
11
failurenouncountable
A try at something that does not work out.
Like baking a cake that comes out flat and no one wants to eat.
The new product was a complete miss with customers.
Some of his films were hits and others were misses.
UsageOften hits and misses.
Similarflop, failure, misfire, dud, disappointment
Oppositehit, success, triumph
12
great lossnouncolloquialcountable
Someone or something that people feel sad to lose or be without.
Like an empty chair at the table where someone always used to sit.
Our old coach will be a big miss next season.
The corner shop has been a real miss since it closed.
UsageSay someone will be a big miss.
Similarloss
13
dodgeverbtransitive or intransitive
To get past something without hitting it or having to deal with it.
Like stepping aside just in time to let someone rush past.
The driver swerved to miss the deer in the road.
Her car barely missed the wall.
UsageSay the car just missed the wall.
Similaravoid, dodge, escape, evade
Oppositehit, strike
Note
14
do withoutnouncountable
A choice to stay away from or skip something.
Like walking past a shop you decide not to go into.
We gave the party a miss because we were tired.
I think I'll give dessert a miss tonight.
UsageGive it a miss means skip it.
15
young girlnouncountable or uncountable
A young unmarried woman or girl.
She was a lively young miss of about sixteen.
The little miss in the pink coat waved at us.
UsageSay a young miss or little miss.
Similargirl, lass, maiden, damsel
16
leave me outverbslangtransitive
To save someone from something bad or annoying.
Miss me with that fake apology.
Miss me with the drama, I just want a quiet weekend.
UsageMiss me with that means spare me.
Similarspare
Note
17
computer memorynouncountable
A time when something is not found in a computer's quick-access memory.
Like reaching for a book on your desk, not finding it, and having to go get it from the library.
Every cache miss slows the program down a little.
The processor recorded a miss and fetched the data from main memory.
Oppositehit
Note
18
not help (cards)verbtransitive or intransitive
In card games, to not improve a player's hand.
Sometimes you miss, and you have to fold.
The river missed his flush, and he folded.
Oppositehit
Note
19
nounobsoletecountable or uncountable
A woman that a man pays for and keeps as his lover.
Similarmistress, paramour, concubine, lover
Note
20
verbobsoleteintransitive
To do something wrong or make a mistake.
Emongst the Angels, a whole legione / Of wicked Sprights did fall from happy blis; / What wonder then, if one of women all did mis?
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, mis means go wrong or make a mistake.
Note
21
nounobsolete
A wrong or sinful act, or a fault.
Note
22
nounobsolete
Harm or hurt caused by a mistake or accident.
Note
23
nounobsolete
A loss or lack of something, and the feeling of missing it.
Note
24
noun
In snooker, a foul where a player fails to hit the target ball and may have to repeat the shot.
25
noun
In the card game three-card loo, an extra hand dealt on the table that a player may take instead of their own.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of miss apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–6, 8–14, 16–18, 20–23

The verb comes from Old English "missan" meaning to miss or fail. The noun comes from Old English "miss" meaning loss or absence.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

The verb derives from Old English missan. en.wiktionary.org
Old English missan meant to miss or fail. en.wiktionary.org
The noun derives from Old English miss, meaning loss or absence. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 7, 15, 19

This comes from the word "mistress."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

The title “miss” comes from “mistress.” en.wiktionary.org