begin to miss

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'begin to miss' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe feeling a sense of longing for someone or something you are away from. For example, "After being away from home for a few days, I began to miss my family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Glass-blowers get it, computer workers can become afflicted and golfers begin to miss their putts".

Independent

Eventually, the parents begin to miss their offspring and come looking.

The New York Times - Books

At some point, she would begin to miss and would become scared.

The New Yorker

"I'll try a couple more, anyway," he wrote, "and if I begin to miss my mark I'll quit".

The New York Times - Books

I wonder when — or if — the dwellers of this city and others will begin to miss the old inefficiencies.

The New York Times

"I'll try a couple more, anyway, and if I begin to miss my mark I'll quit," he wrote.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Mr. Altysultanov said he began to miss his family.

The New York Times

But then how he'd begun to miss her.

The New Yorker

And, slowly, I began to miss my conversations with Dream.

The New York Times

But the golfer who couldn't miss winning that Open began to miss.

The New York Times - Sports

"Everybody began to miss something and it was not a kiss, you bet your life it was not a kiss that anybody began to miss.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "begin to miss" to describe the initial stages of feeling longing or absence. It's suitable for both people and things.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses within a sentence when using "begin to miss". For example, don't mix present and past tenses: Incorrect: "I begin to miss him after I saw the photo." Correct: "I began to miss him after I saw the photo."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "begin to miss" functions as a verb phrase indicating the start of a feeling of longing or absence. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is both correct and widely used in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "begin to miss" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote the initial feeling of longing or absence. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and common usage in English writing. Predominantly found in "News & Media", with secondary presences in "Wiki" and "Science" contexts, it maintains a neutral register, rendering it appropriate for varied communicative scenarios. For alternatives, you might consider using start missing or "come to miss" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

start missing

A more direct and slightly less formal alternative.

come to miss

Emphasizes the process of gradually starting to miss someone or something.

grow to miss

Suggests a gradual increase in the feeling of missing someone or something.

commence to miss

Uses a more formal verb ("commence") for "begin", slightly altering the tone.

get to miss

More informal way of saying "begin to miss".

start to long for

Emphasizes the emotional aspect of longing, rather than simply missing.

develop a longing for

Highlights the gradual development of a longing feeling.

start to feel the absence of

Focuses on the feeling of absence, making it more descriptive.

find oneself missing

Reflexive form which emphasize the emotional state of the subject.

yearn for

Expresses a deep longing or desire.

FAQs

How can I use "begin to miss" in a sentence?

You can use "begin to miss" to describe the onset of feeling a sense of loss or longing for someone or something. For instance, "After a week of traveling, I "began to miss" my own bed".

What's a less formal way to say "begin to miss"?

A less formal way to express the same idea is to say "start missing". For example, instead of "I begin to miss my friends", you could say "I'm starting to miss my friends".

Which is more accurate, "begin to miss" or "began to miss"?

The choice between "begin to miss" and "began to miss" depends on the context and the intended tense. "Begin to miss" indicates a present or future onset of feeling loss, while "began to miss" refers to a past onset.

What's the difference between "come to miss" and "begin to miss"?

"Come to miss" suggests a gradual development of missing someone or something over time, while "begin to miss" simply indicates the starting point of that feeling. For example, "I didn't like the city at first, but I came to miss it after moving away" indicates a gradual shift.