missing in action

adjective

: missing and unable to be confirmed as captured or killed following military action
a soldier who was declared missing in action
The 1st Cavalry Division casualties in Operation PERSHING totalled 852 troopers killed in action, 22 missing in action, 286 killed in noncombat circumstances …Shelby L. Stanton
often used figuratively for someone or something notably or unexpectedly missing, absent, or inactive
Most readers expect an encyclopedia to give the judgment of scholars—a group largely missing in action here.Julia Vitullo-Martin
The movie itself has just resurfaced after having been missing in action for some time.Video Review
But lots of hair had turned gray (my own included); lots more was missing in action.Joseph Epstein

Examples of missing in action in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The week his Tiny Desk set hit YouTube, the song was milling around outside the top 10 of Adult R&B Airplay, missing in action on Rhythmic and just sneaking into the top 30 of Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 4 Sep. 2025 Today, the arithmetic is far less forgiving, and our Congress is missing in action. Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 2 Sep. 2025 The filmmaker joined his stars Cate Blanchett, Charlotte Rampling, Vicky Krieps, Mayim Bialik, Luka Sabbat and Indya Moore for the red carpet festivities at Sala Grande, with only Adam Driver and Tom Waits missing in action. Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025 The fallout from the assault has thrown city leadership into turmoil, as Mayor Aftab Pureval was missing in action for several days following the incident, leading to the local Fraternal Order Police (FOP) unanimously voting no-confidence in him. FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for missing in action

Word History

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of missing in action was in 1808

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Cite this Entry

“Missing in action.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/missing%20in%20action. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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