missing

1 of 2

adjective

miss·​ing ˈmi-siŋ 

1

: absent

a missing tooth

also : lost

my keys are missing

—sometimes used in the phrase go missing

My keys have gone missing.

2

: needed or expected but not included

It's a good sauce, but something is missing.

see also:

go missing

missing

2 of 2

present participle of miss entry 1

Synonyms of missing

Adjective

• lost
• gone
• misplaced

Examples of missing in a Sentence

Adjective

The new director has provided the missing ingredient that was needed for the show's success.

the missing socks turned up in the dog's special hiding place

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Lead author Samantha Gilbert-Janizek expanded the model to include those missing systems, creating a more complete picture of how chemicals move throughout a rocky planet. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026

No more missing a hairline movement in the shadows and losing your edge! — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 3 Nov. 2026

The category includes cans reported as overflowing, damaged, missing or in need of maintenance. — Hanna Kang, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

This lets retailers reliably track pricing, assortment and marketing trends even in categories like fashion where identifiers are typically inconsistent or missing. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing missing

• missing in action
• missing link
• missing person report
• someone doesn't know what he/she is missing

Rhymes for missing

• hissing
• kissing
• characterising
• dismissing
• nipissing
• reminiscing

Kids Definition

missing

adjective

miss·​ing ˈmis-iŋ 

: absent entry 1 sense 1, lost

missing persons

missing in action