misplace

/ˌmɪsˈpleɪs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌmɪsˈpleɪs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌmis-ˈplās/ (ame, mw)

misplace — verb

  • misplacepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • misplaceshe / she / it
  • misplacedpast simple
  • misplacing-ing form

1. to forget where you put something so that you cannot find it for a while, even t

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to forget where you put something so that you cannot find it for a while, even though it is probably still nearby.

例句

Anong misplaced her car keys again and was late for the meeting.

common object: keys, with frustrating consequence

I keep misplacing my reading glasses around the house.

present continuous for repeated action

同義詞
  • mislay

    near-identical meaning; slightly more formal and more British

  • lose

    broader; can mean permanently gone, not just temporarily forgotten

反義詞
  • find

    the natural resolution after misplacing

文法句型

misplace + object (often everyday items)

用法筆記

Object is almost always a small, portable item the speaker owns (keys, glasses, wallet, phone, documents). Stronger than 'lose' only in tone — speakers usually still expect to find the item soon.

常見錯誤

❌I misplaced my cat in the garden.
✅I lost sight of my cat in the garden.
💡'misplace' is used for small objects you forget where you put, not for animals or people.

2. to put something in a position that is not the correct or suitable one, often by

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to put something in a position that is not the correct or suitable one, often by mistake.

例句

A nurse had misplaced the decimal point on the prescription label.

concrete error in a professional setting

The editor pointed out that the comma was misplaced in the opening line.

passive: be misplaced (typographic context)

同義詞
  • mislocate

    very formal and rare; mostly technical writing

  • misposition

    technical; usually about parts in engineering or anatomy

反義詞

文法句型

misplace + object

be misplaced

用法筆記

Frequently passive ('was misplaced'). Distinguish from sense 1: here the speaker knows where the item is — it is simply in the wrong spot — while sense 1 means the speaker cannot find it at all. The figurative pattern 'misplaced trust / confidence / loyalty' is very common.

常見錯誤

❌She misplaced the vase and could not find it.
✅She misplaced the vase on the lower shelf.
💡for sense 2 the location is known; if you cannot find the item, use sense 1.