Missing Meaning
Missing Definition & Usage
Absent or not found when expected.
Examples
- "My keys are missing; I can't find them anywhere!"
- "The cat has been missing for three days, and we are getting worried."
- "I noticed a missing book from the shelf, so I asked my brother if he took it."
- "Her ring went missing after she went swimming at the beach."
- "The children are all accounted for, except for one who is still missing."
Failing to perceive or be aware of something.
Examples
- "I missed the last bus, so I had to walk home."
- "She missed her chance to speak at the meeting because she arrived late."
- "I missed the point of the joke; can you explain it again?"
- "He missed the deadline to submit his project and now faces consequences."
- "Don't miss out on the opportunity to see the concert; it's the last show!"
The condition of being absent or unaccounted for.
Examples
- "The police launched a search for the missing person."
- "Her disappearance was reported as a missing persons case."
- "There's been a missing persons report filed for a local teenager."
- "The missing items were found under the bed after hours of searching."
- "Several missing pets were returned to their owners after a week of searching."
Cultural Context
The term 'missing' is widely used in both personal and formal contexts, from everyday situations (like missing keys or a missed appointment) to more serious matters (such as missing persons and lost items). It evokes feelings of absence, loss, and sometimes urgency, especially in situations that require immediate action or attention, such as in police investigations.
The Missing Letter
Story
The Missing Letter
It was a typical Wednesday afternoon when Emma sat down at her desk, ready to write the most important letter of her life. She had been preparing for this moment for weeks, and now, the opportunity was finally here. But as she rummaged through her papers, she realized something horrifying: the letter she had carefully written and folded the night before was missing. Her heart raced as she checked every drawer and corner of her room, but it was nowhere to be found. Emma's hands trembled with frustration. Had she misplaced it? Had it slipped behind her bookshelf? The clock was ticking, and she had only a few hours left before the letter needed to be sent. Her mind raced with possibilities, and each second that passed felt like an eternity. As she sat down, staring at the empty desk, Emma couldn't help but think about how, in life, there are times when we feel as though we're missing something important, something that could change the course of our future. She had thought the letter was her chance, but now, it seemed that chance had slipped away. Then, just as she was about to give up, her little brother, Timmy, walked into the room holding the letter in his hand. 'I found it!' he said, grinning. Emma sighed with relief and laughed, realizing that sometimes, the things we think are missing are only hidden in plain sight.
