go missing

1 of 3

phrase

chiefly British : to become lost : disappear

missing

2 of 3

adjective

miss·​ing ˈmi-siŋ How to pronounce missing (audio)
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

3 of 3

present participle of miss entry 1

Synonyms of go missing

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of go 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
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.
Phrase
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has established a minimum reward of $25,000 in cases where people went missing or were killed in Indian Country, part of a broader effort to address high rates of violence affecting Native American communities. — Sarah Raza, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The little girl went missing from her home in Bara, about 80 miles south of the capital Kathmandu, on August 16. — Arshad R. Zargar, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Families covered hospital walls with posters showing missing relatives, photographs and contact numbers in a desperate appeal for any clue that could bring them home. — Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026 Nepal's disaster authority said 781 people had died, with 2,502 missing and Chinese officials added that 16 people had died with 546 missing. — James Powel, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for go missing

Word History

First Known Use

Phrase

1845, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of go missing was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing go missing

Rhymes for go missing

See All Rhymes for go missing

Browse Nearby Words

gom-gom
go missing
gommier
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Go missing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go%20missing. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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