gone missing

USAGE SUMMARY

"gone missing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has disappeared without explanation, such as a person or an object. For example, "The cat has gone missing - have you seen it anywhere?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She's gone missing".

The New Yorker

Assange has gone missing.

The Washington Post

Your kid's gone missing.

The Guardian

"Gone missing," he said now.

The New Yorker

Neither had gone missing before.

Independent

Joy, 18, has gone missing.

Independent

A fortune has gone missing.

The New York Times - Books

The prime minister's gone missing!

The Guardian - Opinion

His mother had gone missing.

The Guardian - Books

The report has gone missing.

The Guardian

Hannah had gone missing before.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting about someone who has "gone missing", provide as much detail as possible, including the last known location, time, and any distinguishing features.

Common error

Avoid using "gone missing" when you need a simple past tense; use "went missing" instead. For example, say "The child went missing yesterday", not "The child gone missing yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gone missing" functions as a past participle within a verb phrase, typically used with auxiliary verbs like has, have, had, is, or are. Ludwig AI also confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "gone missing" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase that signifies the disappearance of someone or something. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its wide acceptance across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using "gone missing", ensure correct tense usage and consider context-appropriate alternatives like "disappeared" or "vanished" depending on the nuance you want to convey. Avoid saying "gone losing", "forgotten missing" or "governed missing" as these are not standard English. The phrase maintains a neutral register and effectively communicates the state of being absent or lost.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disappeared

Simple past tense of 'disappear', indicating a completed action of vanishing.

vanished

Similar to 'disappeared', but often implies a more sudden or mysterious disappearance.

is missing

Present tense indicating the current state of being absent or lost.

has disappeared

Present perfect tense, emphasizing the result of the disappearance.

unaccounted for

Describes someone or something whose whereabouts are unknown.

cannot be found

Passive voice emphasizing the inability to locate someone or something.

lost

General term for being unable to locate something or someone.

went astray

Suggests a deviation from the correct path or location.

absent

Simply indicates that someone or something is not present.

off the radar

Informal phrase suggesting someone or something has become difficult to track or locate.

FAQs

How do I use "gone missing" in a sentence?

"Gone missing" is typically used as part of a verb phrase with an auxiliary verb like "has", "had", or "is". For example: "The hiker has gone missing", or "Several documents have gone missing from the office".

What's the difference between "gone missing" and "is missing"?

"Gone missing" implies a completed action of disappearing, whereas "is missing" describes the current state of being absent. "He has gone missing" suggests he disappeared at some point, while "He is missing" indicates he's currently not found.

What can I say instead of "gone missing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "disappeared", "vanished", or "unaccounted for".

Is it correct to say "went missing" instead of "gone missing"?

Yes, "went missing" is the simple past tense and is correct in sentences like "The dog went missing last night". "Gone missing" is the past participle and requires an auxiliary verb such as "has", "have", or "had".