What is miss? Pronunciation and usage in English

miss means . Learn how to pronounce and use miss through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of miss

missverb/noun

/mɪs/
Definition & pronunciation of miss

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "miss" in English! It's a tricky one because it's often mispronounced. Here's a breakdown:

Correct Pronunciation:

  • Most Common (American English): /ˈmɪs/ (rhymes with "kiss" or "dish")

    • Emphasis: The stress is on the first syllable ("MI").
    • Sounds:
      • "m": As in "mom"
      • "i": As in "bit"
      • "s": As in "sun"

  • British English: /mɪs/ (very similar to the American pronunciation, but sometimes a slightly shorter 'i' sound)

Common Mispronunciations and Why They're Wrong:

  • "mice": This is the biggest mistake! "Miss" is not plural.
  • "mish": This is a completely different word meaning a blunder.

Tips to Help You:

  1. Think of "kiss" or "dish": Using those words as a mental anchor can help you get the correct rhythm and vowel sound.

  2. Short "i" sound: The "i" in "miss" is a very short and quick "i" sound, as in "bit" or "sit." Don't draw it out.

  3. Practice saying it slowly: Say "MIss" slowly, focusing on each syllable, until you feel comfortable. Then gradually speed it up.

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

Do you want me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation again?
  • Give you some example sentences using the word "miss"?

Usage and examples with the word miss in English

Let's break down how to use the word "miss" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with a few different meanings and uses! Here's a detailed breakdown:

1. To Feel a Sense of Absence (Most Common)

  • Meaning: This is the most common usage. It describes the feeling of sadness or longing when someone or something you care about is not around.
  • Examples:
    • "I miss you!" (To someone you're away from)
    • "I miss my family when I'm traveling."
    • "I really miss that old coffee shop."
    • "She misses her dog terribly."
  • Grammar: "Miss" is usually followed by a noun (person, thing, place).

2. To Fail to Catch Something (Physical Action)

  • Meaning: To fail to catch a ball, a bus, a train, or anything else that is moving.
  • Examples:
    • "He missed the bus and was late for work."
    • "She missed the catch in the game."
    • "Don't miss the train!"
  • Grammar: "Miss" is followed by a noun (bus, catch, train, etc.).

3. To Regret an Opportunity (Formal/Literary)

  • Meaning: To regret not taking an opportunity or making a decision. This usage is a bit more formal and is common in literature and speech.
  • Examples:
    • "He missed his chance to travel the world."
    • "She missed a crucial opportunity for advancement."
    • "I missed the deadline." (Here, it expresses regret.)
  • Grammar: "Miss" is followed by a noun (chance, opportunity, deadline).

4. "Miss" as a Verb (Referring to Women – Less Common Now)

  • Meaning: Historically, “miss” as a verb referred to unmarried women. It described a woman who wasn't married. This usage is becoming outdated and can be considered polite or even offensive to use, particularly when referring to someone as “miss.”
  • Example (Older Usage): "Miss Smith is a lovely woman." (Implies she is unmarried.)
  • Important Note: It’s generally best to avoid using “miss” as a verb when referring to a woman unless you’re intentionally creating a historical or literary effect and are aware of the potential for offense. Use “Ms.” or simply her name.

Key Points and Tips:

  • Pronunciation: "Miss" is pronounced /mɪs/.
  • Contractions: It contracts to "didn't" (I didn't miss it), "won't" (I won't miss you).
  • "Forget" vs. "Miss": "Forget" means to not remember something. "Miss" means to feel a sense of longing for something or someone.

Let’s Practice!

Fill in the blank with the correct form of “miss” (to feel absence, to miss something physically, or to regret):

  1. I __________ my grandmother very much.
  2. The baseball player __________ the ball.
  3. He __________ his chance to win the competition.

Answers:

  1. miss (to feel absence)
  2. missed (to miss physically)
  3. missed (to regret)

Do you want me to:

  • Give you more examples of how to use "miss"?
  • Explain the difference between "miss" and similar words like "lack" or "want"?

Synonyms for the word miss

Idioms of the word miss

somebody’s heart misses/skips a beat
used to say that somebody has a sudden feeling of fear, excitement, etc.
  • My heart missed a beat when I saw who it was.
he, she, etc. doesn’t miss a trick
(informal)used to say that somebody notices every opportunity to gain an advantage
    hit/miss the mark
    to succeed/fail in achieving or guessing something
    • He blushed furiously and Robyn knew she had hit the mark.
    • The film misses the mark because it just isn't believable.
    miss the boat
    (informal)to be unable to take advantage of something because you are too late
    • If you don't buy now, you may find that you've missed the boat.
    miss your guess
    (North American English, informal)to make a mistake
    • Unless I miss my guess, your computer needs a new hard drive.
    • If you miss your guess, you lose 10 points.

    Practice with vocabulary miss

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. Due to an unexpected network outage, the IT team might ________ the upcoming software deployment deadline.
    2. After living abroad for several years, I really ________ the taste of authentic home-cooked meals.
    3. When preparing the quarterly report, it's crucial not to ________ any significant financial discrepancies.
    4. It's easy to ________ of important details when you're overwhelmed with too many tasks.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. The project manager warned us that if we didn't carefully review the client's requirements, we might ________ crucial information. A) bypass B) skip C) miss D) ignore

    2. Many employees expressed that they truly ________ the informal social gatherings since the company transitioned to remote work. A) lacked B) yearned C) missed D) forgot

    3. The marketing team decided to ________ the launch event until they had finalized all promotional materials. A) avoid B) skip C) postpone D) overlook

    4. Despite having a clear view, the new striker unfortunately ________ the open goal during the critical moment of the match. A) avoided B) failed C) missed D) overlooked

    5. She was so engrossed in her coding that she didn't ________ her colleague's urgent call. A) grasp B) notice C) perceive D) discern

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. I regret not being able to attend the crucial stakeholder meeting yesterday. Rewrite using a form of "miss":

    2. Because of the dense fog, the airplane couldn't find its runway during landing. Rewrite using a form of "miss":

    3. The board decided that we should not include the outdated data in the final presentation. Rewrite using a suitable replacement word (do not use "miss"):

    Answer:

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. Due to an unexpected network outage, the IT team might miss the upcoming software deployment deadline.
    2. After living abroad for several years, I really miss the taste of authentic home-cooked meals.
    3. When preparing the quarterly report, it's crucial not to overlook any significant financial discrepancies.
    4. It's easy to lose track of important details when you're overwhelmed with too many tasks.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. C) miss (Also D) ignore, but C is the most direct fit for failing to perceive/understand.)
    2. C) missed
    3. C) postpone
    4. C) missed
    5. B) notice (Also C) perceive, but B is more common and direct in this context.)

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. I regret missing the crucial stakeholder meeting yesterday.
    2. Because of the dense fog, the airplane missed its runway during landing.
    3. The board decided that we should omit the outdated data in the final presentation.

    Comment ()