amiss
Americanadverb
adjective
idioms
adverb
-
in an incorrect, inappropriate, or defective manner
-
to be annoyed or offended by something
adjective
Etymology
Origin of amiss
1200–50; Middle English amis, equivalent to a- a- 1 + mis wrong. See miss 1
Explanation
When things are out of their proper places or not happening the way they should, we say they are amiss. Sherlock Holmes, like many sharp detectives, would quickly notice when something was amiss at a crime scene. The word amiss can be used as an adverb, as in the sentence, "I spoke amiss." Or you could use it as an adjective, as when you think something is wrong or missing — "Something in the room is amiss." Either way, amiss refers to something that is wrong, off the mark, or "missed." Once in a while, the word amiss can imply that something fishy or foul has taken place. In Hamlet, when Marcellus said, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark," he might as well have said, "Something in Denmark is amiss."
Vocabulary lists containing amiss
Things Fall Apart
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Julius Caesar
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A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ensconced in an echo chamber, we run the risk of being the last to learn when something is amiss.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
A cluster of cases 13 years ago was one of the first major signs that something was amiss.
From Salon • May 7, 2026
At The Times’ table in the ballroom, nothing appeared amiss at first.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026
"A hug never goes amiss either. A decent cwtch once in a while helps a treat."
From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026
I muddled through, and if God or man heard anything amiss, neither of them called me on it.
From "Prisoner B-3087" by Alan Gratz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
