had been missing

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been missing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is newly found after being absent for some period of time. Example: The cat had been missing for days until it finally returned to its owners.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That had been missing".

The Guardian - Sport

The men had been missing since December.

The New York Times

He had been missing for four years.

The New Yorker

She had been missing for 18 months.

The New York Times

Hornbeck had been missing since October 2002.

The Guardian

Most of them had been missing left.

The Guardian - Sport

JOSH PECK had been missing his crew.

The New York Times

Ms. Healy had been missing since late Tuesday.

The New York Times

And I saw what had been missing: pride.

The New York Times

But the telling evidence of the canals had been missing.

The New York Times - Science

If only the frog parts had been missing too.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been missing" to indicate a state of absence that ended at a specific point in the past. For example, "The key had been missing until I checked under the rug."

Common error

Avoid using "had been missing" when a simpler past tense like "was missing" or "went missing" would suffice for current situations. "Had been missing" implies a concluded state of absence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been missing" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase. It describes an action or state that started in the past, continued for a period, and was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Sport

5%

Lifestyle

5%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been missing" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase used to describe a state of absence that occurred over a period of time and ended before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, primarily in news and media sources. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately conveys a completed state of absence, distinguishing it from the simple past tense. Alternatives such as "had been absent", "had disappeared", and "had been lacking" can be used depending on the specific nuance you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been absent

Emphasizes the state of being away or not present.

had been gone

Focuses on the fact that something or someone was no longer present.

had been lacking

Highlights the deficiency or absence of a required element or quality.

had been lost

Indicates a state of being misplaced or unable to be found.

had disappeared

Stresses the sudden or mysterious vanishing of something or someone.

had been unavailable

Focuses on the lack of accessibility or presence.

had not been present

Highlights the absence of someone or something at a certain time.

had been deficient

Stresses the inadequacy or incompleteness of something.

had been wanting

Indicates that something was desired or needed but absent.

had not existed

Emphasizes the lack of prior existence or occurrence.

FAQs

How do I use "had been missing" in a sentence?

Use "had been missing" to describe something or someone that was absent for a period of time before being found or returning. For example, "The dog "had been missing" for three days before it showed up at our door".

What's the difference between "was missing" and "had been missing"?

"Was missing" describes a state of absence at a specific point in the past. "Had been missing" describes a state of absence that began in the past and continued until another point in the past. For example, "The book was missing from the shelf" versus "The book "had been missing" for a week before I found it".

Can I use "had been missing" to describe abstract concepts?

Yes, you can use "had been missing" to describe abstract concepts, such as qualities or feelings, that were absent until a certain point. For example, "The joy "had been missing" from her life until she started painting".

What are some alternatives to using "had been missing" in a sentence?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "had been absent", "had disappeared", or "had been lacking" to convey a similar meaning. Choose the phrase that best fits the nuance you want to express.