missing in action
Americanadjective
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missing during military operations and not confirmed to have been killed. Abbreviation: MIA.
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(figuratively) missing or absent in a way that is noteworthy or surprising.
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.
In September 2023 he was reported missing in action.
From Barron's • Apr. 25, 2026
In January last year, Mbarga was reported missing in action and is presumed dead.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026
Even having made two single-season streaming series in the interim, he has seemingly been missing in action, the absence of his visual flair, bent humor and taste for provocation leaving an empty space in theaters.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2026
Some are soldiers missing in action on the front line, presumed dead.
From BBC • Aug. 11, 2025
Walter Cronkite didn’t read off the names of the missing in action, so Lieutenant Baker was never mentioned.
From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt
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.
