misplace

[ mis-pleys ]

verb (used with object)

, mis·placed, mis·plac·ing.

1. to put in a wrong place.
2. to put in a place afterward forgotten; lose; mislay.
3. to place or bestow improperly, unsuitably, or unwisely:

   to misplace one's trust.

   Synonyms: misapply

misplace

/ ˌmɪsˈpleɪs /

verb

1. to put (something) in the wrong place, esp to lose (something) temporarily by forgetting where it was placed; mislay
2. often passive to bestow (trust, confidence, affection, etc) unadvisedly

Derived Forms

• ˌmisˈplacement, noun

Other Words From

• mis·placement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of misplace¹

First recorded in 1545–55; mis- ¹ + place

Synonym Study

See displace.

Example Sentences

Still, I unearthed a favorite postcard that had somehow been misplaced.

From Washington Post

We’ve been deadnamed and misgendered, and misplaced in dangerous carceral spaces.

From Washington Blade

All you have to do is attach it to any item you never want to lose, and you can easily track it with the accompanying product should it get misplaced.

From Popular-Science

Tan weaves that original footage with contemporary reflections and interviews, in a meditation on youthful ambition, creative dreams and misplaced trust.

From Time

Stacks of ballots were not being recounted as they were moved and handled, as would otherwise be standard to ensure none are lost or misplaced.

From Washington Post

She does not misplace her embellishments with the error of some human artists.

From Project Gutenberg

I was so afraid I'd forget and flop down on them, or misplace something, that I came in here to read awhile.

From Project Gutenberg

From ignorance we may misplace animals, and include them under the wrong division.

From Project Gutenberg

She thought it cleverer to withhold trust from everybody, lest she misplace it in somebody.

From Project Gutenberg

But if we blew it up now, Slade will put the blame on us—— Tell you what—I'll just misplace the key.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• confuse
• disorganize
• disturb
• unsettle