be missing for a while

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be missing for a while" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something has been absent for a period of time. Example: "I haven't seen Sarah lately; I wonder why she has been missing for a while."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Wenger also said that defender Laurent Koscielny, missing from the Swansea draw, would be missing "for a while" with a calf problem.

BBC

Investing your money in a CD is a good way to put money to use that you know you won't lose to be missing for a while.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

That's been missing for a while, but it's kind of what we set out to do".

The Guardian - Film

The little man was missing for a while this season, but now he is whispering all the right words.

The New York Times - Sports

Or maybe it's been missing for a while, after someone borrowed it and never brought it back.

The New York Times

OUTLOOK -- The Seahawks need to gel and play complementary football, an element that has been missing for a while.

The New York Times - Sports

For the lads, it's nothing different to having any player come back into the squad who's been missing for a while".

Independent

"At one time you had whites moving to Levittown, and now we've got Hispanic suburbanites helping to populate the schools and starting the family networks that had been missing for a while as the whites aged.

The New York Times

I know I will have to adapt my own and my family's lifestyle, but hopefully, my children will get back what has been missing for a while now; a mum who may still work long hours, look frazzled on a Friday, but gets genuine career satisfaction.

The Guardian

"It's been something I've been missing for a while - coming to a Saturday and knowing that I'm going to be involved," he said.

BBC

MR: Yeah, the drama and pizazz has sort of been missing for a while.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be missing for a while", ensure the context clearly indicates what or who is absent and the approximate duration of the absence. This prevents ambiguity and strengthens communication.

Common error

Avoid embedding "be missing for a while" within overly complex sentences, as this can obscure the meaning. Instead, break down the sentence for clarity and impact. For example, instead of "The report, which had been missing for a while due to a clerical error, was finally located", try "The report was missing for a while. It was finally located after a clerical error was identified".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be missing for a while" functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating a temporary absence or lack. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability, as seen in examples like something being "missing for a while" from a software version.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be missing for a while" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a temporary absence or lack of something. Ludwig confirms this. Its usage spans across various contexts, but it is most prevalent in news and media sources. The phrase carries a neutral register, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, clarity is key; ensure the subject of absence and the duration are clear. Alternatives like ""be absent for some time"" or ""be gone for a period"" can be used for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be absent for some time

This alternative emphasizes the absence aspect but specifies 'some time' rather than 'a while'.

be gone for a period

Focuses on being gone, implying a temporary absence over a specified period.

be unavailable for a duration

Highlights the lack of availability, suitable for situations where something or someone cannot be accessed.

not be present for a stretch

Emphasizes the lack of presence over a continuous interval.

be lacking for an interval

This alternative highlights a deficiency or absence over a set interval.

have been away for a bit

Focuses on the state of being away, adding an informal tone with 'a bit'.

be out of the picture for a spell

Suggests removal or absence from a particular situation or context for a limited time.

not be around for some time

Highlights the absence of someone or something in an environment for a unspecified duration.

be temporarily out of the loop

Indicates exclusion from information or activity for a short period.

be on hiatus for a while

Suggests a temporary pause or break from activity for a specified duration.

FAQs

How can I use "be missing for a while" in a sentence?

You can use "be missing for a while" to indicate that something or someone has been absent for a certain period. For example, "That feature has "been missing for a while" in this software version".

What are some alternatives to "be missing for a while"?

Some alternatives include "be absent for some time", "be gone for a period", or "be unavailable for a duration", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "has been missing for a while" or "had been missing for a while"?

Both are grammatically correct, but their usage depends on the context and tense. "Has been missing for a while" indicates something that started in the past and continues to the present, while "had been missing for a while" indicates something that was missing in the past before another past event.

What's the difference between "be missing for a while" and "be missing in action"?

"Be missing for a while" generally implies a temporary absence, while "be missing in action" usually refers to someone who is lost or unaccounted for during military operations and whose fate is uncertain.