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 year before that, the remains of a German climber who went missing in 1986 were recovered on a glacier in the Swiss Alps. — CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 The Mississippi teenager went missing after going on a Fourth of July boat trip with friends to Horn Island, just off the Gulf Coast, authorities said. — Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Not only is that a rare kind of intentionality, but the federal government has gone missing. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026 His solid on-base percentage and Gold Glove-caliber defense could compensate only so much for his early lack of power, a previously missing element in what the Cubs projected to be a dynamic lineup. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 23 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 25 Aug. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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