missing

/ˈmɪsɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɪsɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmi-siŋ/ (ame, mw)

missing — adjective

  • missingpositive
  • more missingcomparative
  • most missingsuperlative

1. Of a person whom nobody can locate, often causing worry for family or authoritie

1.形容詞A2
釋義

Of a person whom nobody can locate, often causing worry for family or authorities who are searching.

例句

Adina's little brother has been missing since yesterday afternoon.

collocation: go missing / been missing

A missing child was found safe by a rescue team near the river.

passive: was found safe

同義詞
  • disappeared

    more neutral, can be voluntary or accidental

  • lost

    implies the person cannot find their way back, not necessarily that others are searching

  • gone

    informal; simply means no longer present

反義詞

用法筆記

Often used in news reports and police statements. The fixed phrase 'missing person' is common in official contexts.

常見錯誤

❌He became missing after the party.
✅He went missing after the party.
💡'go missing' is the natural collocation for disappearing; 'become missing' sounds unnatural.

2. Not in the place one expects to find it; absent from its usual spot, or not part

2.形容詞B1
釋義

Not in the place one expects to find it; absent from its usual spot, or not part of something that ought to contain it.

例句

A book from the shelf was missing, and Shirin could not find it.

collocation: missing from [location]

The front door key was missing from its usual hook by the entrance.

同義詞
  • absent

    more formal; can apply to people or things

  • lost

    implies the item cannot be recovered

  • lacking

    focuses on the absence of something needed

反義詞

常見錯誤

❌The salt is missed from the cupboard.
✅The salt is missing from the cupboard.
💡'missing' describes a current state; 'missed' is the past tense of the verb 'to miss' (feel the absence of).

3. Of a soldier or military vehicle, not having returned from combat and not confir

3.形容詞B2
釋義

Of a soldier or military vehicle, not having returned from combat and not confirmed dead or captured.

例句

Three soldiers were reported missing after their patrol did not return to base.

passive: were reported missing

The army is still searching for missing crew members from the damaged helicopter.

同義詞
  • MIA

    standard military abbreviation; more specific than 'missing'

  • unaccounted for

    formal military language; neutral about cause

反義詞

用法筆記

Often abbreviated as MIA (Missing In Action) in military reports and news. This sense implies uncertainty about the person's fate.

常見錯誤

❌The soldier was missing after training.
✅The soldier went missing during combat.
💡'missing in action' specifically refers to combat situations, not routine training.