informal
: fear of missing out : fear of not being included in something (such as an interesting or enjoyable activity) that others are experiencing
If anyone in history should have died from FOMO, it would be Emily Dickinson, an agoraphobe who virtually never left her house …—
O, The Oprah Magazine
O, The Oprah MagazineIn 2018, I was in Rome for Thanksgiving—the first time I had been out of the country for a major holiday. My family never felt so far away, and all I wanted was to be home. This was dramatic, of course, brought on by end-of-semester stress and strong FOMO.—Gretchen Wright
compare jomo
Gretchen WrightExamples of FOMO in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Is Treefort Music Fest giving you a bad case of FOMO already?
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 25 Mar. 2026
This Fear Of Missing Out — aka FOMO — could be another major catalyst in younger people’s mass return to theaters.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026
In a market whipped into a frenzy by a fear of missing out (FOMO) and algorithmic trading, doing nothing is often the superior strategy.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Simply put, the FOMO mindset that has driven crypto for so long has landed in the precious metals arena.
—Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Don’t fall into the FOMO trap and overbook yourself.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
Were a few days of apprehensive action enough to reload the rally for a true year-end FOMO ramp?
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
Teach media literacy Managing social media FOMO begins with discussing the truth about what your kid is seeing online.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 19 Sep. 2025
Every summer, courtesy of my television, FOMO arrives.
—Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2025
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Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 25 Mar. 2026
This Fear Of Missing Out — aka FOMO — could be another major catalyst in younger people’s mass return to theaters.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026
In a market whipped into a frenzy by a fear of missing out (FOMO) and algorithmic trading, doing nothing is often the superior strategy.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Simply put, the FOMO mindset that has driven crypto for so long has landed in the precious metals arena.
—Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Don’t fall into the FOMO trap and overbook yourself.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
Were a few days of apprehensive action enough to reload the rally for a true year-end FOMO ramp?
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
Teach media literacy Managing social media FOMO begins with discussing the truth about what your kid is seeing online.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 19 Sep. 2025
Every summer, courtesy of my television, FOMO arrives.
—Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“FOMO.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/FOMO. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
FOMO
noun
: fear of missing out
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