amiss

1 of 2

adverb

1
a
: in a mistaken way : wrongly
If you think he is guilty, you judge amiss.
b
: astray
Something had gone amiss.
2
: in a faulty way : imperfectly
practiced more so as not to play the piece amiss

amiss

2 of 2

adjective

1
: not being in accordance with right order
2
: faulty, imperfect
There's nothing/something amiss with the engine.
3
: out of place in given circumstances
usually used with a negative
A few remarks may not be amiss here.

Examples of amiss in a Sentence

Adverb I hope that my suggestion that you might be more comfortable in a larger chair was not taken amiss. the reenactment of the Wright Brothers' first flight went amiss when the wind died on the makeshift runway and the plane stopped short in a mud puddle Adjective Some of his assumptions are amiss. The doctor's examination showed that nothing was amiss.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adverb
The whole incident -- from realizing something was going amiss to hitting the water -- only lasted one or two minutes. Leah Asmelash, CNN, 21 Aug. 2019 This connectivity can provide a sense of brain organization, and there's a growing body of evidence that this organization goes amiss in those with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 12 Apr. 2018
Adjective
To skeptics of the impact hypothesis, this affiliation was another sign that something was amiss. Zach St. George, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 But a confluence of factors—and the public’s rabid preoccupation with celebrity gossip—have converged to make some people online think that something is very amiss. Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 29 Feb. 2024 When those movements follow irregular or abnormal patterns, the system alerts scientists that something is amiss. MORE FOR YOU A typical installation includes 16 mollusks, each fitted with a tiny sensor complete with a battery that has years of available power. John Koetsier, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 If the machines detect something amiss, the bag triggers an alarm that alerts someone in the operation center. USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 While Pochettino’s job appears safe, for now, cementing it with a piece of silverware, his first in English football, certainly wouldn’t go amiss. Matias Grez, CNN, 24 Feb. 2024 The 1980s were a rapid succession of accomplishments, intermixed with signs that something was amiss. Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 But a curveball fashion moment wouldn’t go amiss… Our bad! Alex Kessler, Vogue, 12 Jan. 2024 But something is amiss, both Carnival and Knudsen admit. Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 4 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'amiss.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English amis, from a- a- entry 1 + mis miss entry 2

Note: Compare Old Icelandic á mis "passing one another without meeting."

Adjective

Middle English amis, derivative of amis amiss entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of amiss was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near amiss

Cite this Entry

“Amiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amiss. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

amiss

1 of 2 adverb
1
: in the wrong way
don't take this remark amiss
2
: astray sense 2
something had gone amiss

amiss

2 of 2 adjective
1
a
: not in accordance with the right order
b
: faulty, improper
something is amiss here
2
: out of place in given circumstances

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