near miss

near miss

noun

Definition of NEAR MISS

1

a : a miss (as with a bomb) close enough to cause damage b : something that falls just short of success

2

a : a near collision (as between aircraft) b : close call

Examples of NEAR MISS

1. After years of near misses, the team has finally won a championship.
2. <a near miss with death prompted him to give up skydiving>

First Known Use of NEAR MISS

1940

Related to NEAR MISS

Synonyms: close shave, close call

Related Words: squeaker

Near Antonyms: misfire

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with NEAR MISS

abyss, amiss, Brown Swiss, coulisse, dehisce, dismiss, French kiss, iwis, koumiss, remiss, submiss