missing

[mis-ing]

adjective

1. absent, not found, or lost.

   a missing person.

2. lacking.

   Something is missing in this relationship.

missing

/ ˈmɪsɪŋ /

adjective

1. not present; absent or lost

2. not able to be traced and not known to be dead

   nine men were missing after the attack

3. to become lost or disappear

Word History and Origins

Origin of missing¹

First recorded in 1520–30; miss ¹ + -ing ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go missing, to disappear; become lost.

   My keys have gone missing again.

Example Sentences

The numbers help fill in a void left by missing federal economic stats delayed by the recent government shutdown.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There are fears that number could increase further, because several people are still missing.

Read more on BBC

The main Catholic cleric in the region has told the BBC that Nigeria's government is making "no meaningful effort" to rescue those still missing.

Read more on BBC

At least 38 people died this month in landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in Central Java and around 13 are still missing.

Read more on Barron's

She joins a search party, and she’s hooked on this thrill of helping find the body of this missing girl, and then decides to start pursuing leads.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• away 
• lost 
• removed