miss
/mɪs/ (bre, ipa) · [mˈɪs] /mɪs/ (ame, ipa) · [mˈɪs] /ˈmis/ (ame, mw)
miss — verb
- misspresent simple I / you / we / they
- misseshe / she / it
- missedpast simple
- missing-ing form
1. to be unable to do, take part in, or have something that was scheduled, hoped fo
to be unable to do, take part in, or have something that was scheduled, hoped for, or part of a routine, whether by accident or on purpose
Ada missed her son's school concert because the meeting ran late.
miss + event noun for planned thing you couldn't attend
Ravindra missed lunch and felt dizzy by three in the afternoon.
miss + meal noun
The cyclist missed taking her usual rest day and pulled a muscle.
Aoi missed the deadline by two hours and had to email an apology.
If you miss breakfast on a long hike, your energy drops fast.
- attend
go to a planned event
- make it to
informal; succeed in being present
文法句型
miss + noun
miss + doing something
用法筆記
Object is usually something the subject had planned, was expected to do, or normally does on a routine (meals, classes, deadlines, events).
常見錯誤
2. to come to a place after a bus, train, plane, or boat has already left
to come to a place after a bus, train, plane, or boat has already left
Eitan missed the last train home and had to sleep on his friend's couch.
miss + the last + transport noun
We missed our flight to Lisbon because traffic on the highway barely moved.
miss + flight to + place
Selim missed the school bus and had to walk through the rain.
Don't take that route at rush hour — you will miss the ferry.
Tuan reached the platform just as the train pulled out and missed it by seconds.
- be late for
broader; can apply to events too
- catch
succeed in boarding before departure
文法句型
miss + the bus / train / flight / boat
用法筆記
Almost always used with a specific scheduled vehicle as the object. Distinguish from sense 1 — sense 2 is strictly about arriving after a departure time.
常見錯誤
3. to be absent from a class, meeting, or event you would normally attend or were e
to be absent from a class, meeting, or event you would normally attend or were expected at
Ava missed three classes last week because she had a bad cold.
miss + classes (regular schedule)
Stefan missed the staff meeting on Friday and asked a coworker for notes.
If a player misses too many practices, the coach drops them from the lineup.
Nia missed Grandma's birthday dinner and felt guilty for weeks.
- skip
informal; suggests choosing not to go
- be absent from
formal; common in school or work contexts
- attend
be present at
文法句型
miss + class / school / meeting / event
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 — sense 3 is specifically about not showing up to a recurring or scheduled gathering, while sense 1 is the broader 'fail to do/have' meaning.
4. to fail to see, hear, or watch something at the moment it happens
to fail to see, hear, or watch something at the moment it happens
Rafael missed the goal because he was buying popcorn at halftime.
Sorry, I missed what you said — could you repeat the last part?
miss + what-clause for spoken speech
Christopher missed the news broadcast about the storm and drove out anyway.
Meera missed the fireworks over the harbor because her train was delayed.
- fail to catch
informal; common with spoken or fast events
- catch
manage to see or hear in time
文法句型
miss + noun
miss + what-clause
用法筆記
Common with broadcasts, announcements, and moments that happen at a specific time. Often used in apologies ('Sorry, I missed that').
5. to fail to spot a person, object, or detail that is right there
to fail to spot a person, object, or detail that is right there
Yumi missed a small typo on the first page of her thesis.
miss + small detail noun
The doctor missed a fracture on the X-ray and had to apologize.
miss + detail in medical or technical inspection
Adina walked right past her old teacher in the supermarket and missed her completely.
You can't miss the bakery — it has a giant yellow sign on the corner.
- overlook
more deliberate or careless tone
- fail to spot
neutral; common in inspections
文法句型
miss + noun
用法筆記
Often used in the phrase 'you can't miss it' for very obvious things. Distinguish from sense 4 — sense 5 is about not noticing things that are visible, not events you weren't present for.
6. to feel a quiet sadness because someone or something you love is no longer with
to feel a quiet sadness because someone or something you love is no longer with you, for example a family member who lives far away or a home you have left behind
Evelyn really misses her grandmother since the family moved to Toronto.
miss + person (loved one absent)
After ten years abroad, Léa still misses the smell of fresh bread in Paris bakeries.
miss + sensory memory of a place
I miss going swimming in the lake every summer like we did as kids.
Allison missed her old dog so much that she adopted a puppy a month later.
Lukas missed Berlin every winter when the streets of Sydney stayed warm.
文法句型
miss + person / place / thing
miss + -ing
用法筆記
Often paired with intensifiers like 'really', 'so much', or 'terribly'. Object can be a person, place, food, activity, or period of life.
常見錯誤
7. to throw, kick, shoot, or aim at something but fail to make contact with it
to throw, kick, shoot, or aim at something but fail to make contact with it
Élise missed the goal three times before her teammate finally scored.
miss + goal (sports)
Dylan aimed at the can on the fence post but missed by half a meter.
miss by + distance (intransitive use)
The hunter missed the deer and it bounded into the forest.
Vikram swung the bat hard but missed the ball completely.
- fail to hit
neutral, descriptive
文法句型
miss + target noun
miss (no object)
用法筆記
Both transitive (miss the target) and intransitive (just 'miss') work. Common in sports, shooting, and any aiming context.
8. to suddenly realize that a thing or person is gone or no longer where it should
to suddenly realize that a thing or person is gone or no longer where it should be
Rania didn't miss her wallet until she reached the cashier at the bookstore.
didn't miss + object until + moment of realization
Camille missed her car keys the moment she shut the apartment door behind her.
Emily missed her phone halfway through the train ride and panicked.
Eric only missed the photo from the shelf after the painters had left.
- notice the absence of
more explicit, longer form
文法句型
miss + noun (something previously present)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 6 — sense 8 is the moment of noticing something is gone, not the ongoing sad feeling of absence. Often used in the past tense with a specific moment of realization.
9. to not grasp the meaning, point, or purpose of something that was said, written,
to not grasp the meaning, point, or purpose of something that was said, written, or done
I think you missed the joke about the broken elevator.
miss + the joke for failing to understand humor
Caleb nodded politely but missed the point of the safety briefing.
miss the point of + noun
The committee missed what the parents were really asking for.
If students miss the idea behind fractions, later algebra feels impossible.
- misunderstand
broader; can also mean understanding in the wrong way
- fail to grasp
slightly more formal; stresses not fully understanding
- understand
grasp the meaning clearly
- get
informal; understand a joke, point, or idea
文法句型
miss + the point
miss + joke / meaning / idea
miss + what-clause
用法筆記
Often used with 'the point', 'the joke', 'the meaning', or a what-clause. Distinguish from sense 4, which is about not hearing or seeing something at all.
10. if something misses a quality, detail, or part, that feature is absent even thou
if something misses a quality, detail, or part, that feature is absent even though it is needed
The final report misses any mention of childcare costs for staff.
miss + mention of + noun
For all its bright colors, the room misses warmth and comfort.
miss + abstract quality
This recipe tastes fresh, but it misses a little salt.
The proposal misses one key step between testing and launch.
文法句型
miss + quality / part / detail
用法筆記
Most common when discussing writing, design, plans, or food. The subject is usually a thing, not a person. Distinguish from sense 8, which is about noticing something is gone.
miss — noun
- misssingular
- missesplural
1. an attempt to hit a target that does not connect, or a deliberate failure to mak
an attempt to hit a target that does not connect, or a deliberate failure to make contact
Ada's first shot was a clean miss, but her second arrow hit the bullseye.
a (adjective) miss for archery / shooting
The pilot reported a near miss with another small plane over the mountains.
fixed phrase: a near miss
After ten hits and only one miss, Ravindra walked away with the carnival prize.
Every miss in basketball costs the team a point in this practice drill.
文法句型
a miss
a near miss
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed phrase 'a near miss' meaning the two things almost collided or almost hit each other.
2. a deliberate choice to skip an activity you could have joined, almost always in
a deliberate choice to skip an activity you could have joined, almost always in the phrase 'give it a miss'
Aoi gave the office party a miss because she was too tired after work.
give + something + a miss (British informal)
I think I'll give the gym a miss tonight and catch up on sleep.
I'll give X a miss (declining politely)
Eitan gave the second movie a miss because the first one bored him.
Let's give that new restaurant a miss — the reviews are terrible.
文法句型
give something a miss
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'give (something) a miss'. Common in British English to politely decline or skip.
3. a female child or young woman whose behavior strikes the speaker as rude, bossy,
a female child or young woman whose behavior strikes the speaker as rude, bossy, or badly mannered
That cheeky miss rolled her eyes when the waiter corrected her order.
a cheeky miss for a rude young woman
Caleb laughed and called his sister a cheeky little miss after her joke.
Grandpa said the rude miss never once thanked the bus driver.
The babysitter was a confident miss who tried to boss everyone around.
- missy
similarly scolding, often even more direct
- young lady
can sound disapproving depending on tone
文法句型
a cheeky miss
that little miss
young miss
用法筆記
Often sounds old-fashioned or teasing rather than neutral. It is usually used by an older speaker commenting on a girl's behavior, not as an objective description.
4. the title Miss written with a surname, or with a person's full name, for a girl
the title Miss written with a surname, or with a person's full name, for a girl or a woman using that style
Miss Chen signed the rental contract last Tuesday at the agent's office.
Miss + family name in formal paperwork
The envelope was addressed to Miss Nia Okafor in blue ink.
Miss + full name on an envelope
Please ask Miss Alvarez whether she is free on Monday morning.
On the form, Soraya checked the box marked 'Miss'.
- Mr.
equivalent title used before a man's name
文法句型
Miss + family name
Miss + full name
box marked 'Miss'
用法筆記
Capitalized when used as a title. In many modern situations, 'Ms' is preferred because it does not show marital status.
常見錯誤
5. a polite word for calling to an unfamiliar young female person directly when you
a polite word for calling to an unfamiliar young female person directly when you do not know her name
Excuse me, miss, you dropped your scarf near the bench.
Excuse me, miss for a stranger
Miss, this seat is free if you need somewhere to sit.
The clerk said, 'Next in line, miss, please step forward.'
Sorry, miss, I thought this shopping bag belonged to you.
- ma'am
more common in American service situations with adults
- sir
equivalent direct address for a man
文法句型
Excuse me, miss
sorry, miss
miss, this is yours
用法筆記
This is a direct form of address, not a title before a name. In some places it can sound old-fashioned, so speakers may choose 'excuse me' without it.
6. the word some schoolchildren use when speaking to or about a female teacher
the word some schoolchildren use when speaking to or about a female teacher
Miss, can I borrow a pencil for the math test?
Miss for addressing a female teacher
The children all shouted, 'Miss! Miss! I know the answer!'
Ask Miss whether we can hand the project in tomorrow.
Our new class still calls Ms. Karim 'Miss' out of habit.
- teacher
neutral reference word, not the usual direct address in English
- sir
common school address term for a male teacher
文法句型
Miss, can I...?
Ask Miss
Yes, Miss
用法筆記
Especially common in British school settings. It can be used even when the teacher's full title outside class would be 'Ms' or 'Mrs.'. Distinguish from sense 5, which is for speaking to an unknown young woman.
7. the official title awarded to a beauty pageant winner, followed by the country,
the official title awarded to a beauty pageant winner, followed by the country, region, or competition she represents
Adina was crowned Miss Romania at the national pageant in Bucharest.
crowned Miss + place name
Miss Universe travels around the world to support charity events for one year.
Miss Universe (global contest)
Évelyn dreamed of becoming Miss France when she was only six years old.
Léa interviewed Miss Brazil before the final round of the contest.
文法句型
Miss + place name (Miss Japan, Miss Universe)
用法筆記
Always capitalized. The place or contest name follows directly, with no preposition between them.