barely missed

USAGE SUMMARY

"barely missed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which something or someone almost didn't succeed, but just barely managed to succeed. Example: He barely missed failing the test, but he managed to pass with a 50%.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They barely missed me".

The New York Times

Verlander barely missed a perfect game.

The New York Times - Sports

He barely missed a groundstroke.

The Guardian - Sport

I had barely missed them.

The Guardian - Books

One blow barely missed her heart.

The Washington Post

I barely missed her this past week.

The Guardian

Clark swung hard -- and barely missed.

The New York Times

Bullets barely missed several vital organs.

The New York Times

But the bottle barely missed a man and his dogs.

The New Yorker

Gate Dancer barely missed getting up for second.

The New York Times - Sports

The two small, shoulder-fired missiles barely missed the plane.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "barely missed" with specific details to create a more vivid picture for the reader. For instance, instead of simply stating "he barely missed the train", try "he barely missed the train, arriving just as the doors were closing".

Common error

Avoid using "barely missing" when you mean "barely missed". "Barely missing" implies an ongoing action of almost missing something, while "barely missed" indicates a completed action of nearly missing something at a specific point in time. For example, use "the bullet barely missed him", not "the bullet was barely missing him".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely missed" functions as an adverbial modifier, emphasizing how close something came to not happening or succeeding. Ludwig examples demonstrate its common use in describing near misses in various scenarios.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Sports

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely missed" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe situations where something nearly occurred or was narrowly avoided. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage, indicating that it effectively conveys a sense of near success or failure. The phrase is frequently found in News & Media and Sports contexts, highlighting its versatility. While alternatives like "narrowly avoided" and "just missed" exist, "barely missed" offers a specific emphasis on the closeness of the outcome. Writers should be mindful to use "barely missed" to describe a completed action and avoid confusion with the present continuous tense. The phrase benefits from having specific details to highlight near misses, e.g. "He barely missed the train, arriving just as the doors were closing".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

narrowly avoided

Implies a close call where something undesirable was almost encountered.

just missed

Indicates that something was missed by a small margin or a short time.

almost hit

Suggests that something nearly made contact or reached a target.

came close to

Emphasizes the proximity to a particular event or outcome.

scarcely missed

Highlights how little something was missed, often implying surprise or relief.

nearly failed

Focuses on the fact that success was achieved by a small margin, narrowly avoiding failure.

managed to evade

Highlights the action of successfully avoiding something, often with effort or skill.

dodged by a hair

A more figurative expression emphasizing the small margin of avoidance.

missed by an inch

Emphasizes the small distance by which something was avoided.

escaped by the skin of one's teeth

Idiomatic expression indicating a very narrow escape from a dangerous or undesirable situation.

FAQs

How can I use "barely missed" in a sentence?

Use "barely missed" to describe a situation where someone or something almost failed, was almost hit, or nearly didn't happen. For example, "He "barely missed" the deadline, submitting his report with only minutes to spare".

What are some alternatives to "barely missed"?

You can use alternatives like "narrowly avoided", "just missed", or "almost hit" depending on the specific context. For example, instead of saying "the car "barely missed" the pedestrian", you could say "the car narrowly avoided the pedestrian".

Is it correct to say "barely missing" instead of "barely missed"?

No, "barely missing" has a different meaning. "Barely missed" implies a completed action of nearly missing something, while "barely missing" suggests an ongoing action. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the intended meaning.

What does "barely missed" imply about the situation?

"Barely missed" implies that the outcome was very close, creating a sense of suspense or relief. It suggests that a small change could have led to a different result.