has been missing since

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase “has been missing since” is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that a person, object, or event has not been seen or heard from since a certain point in time. For example, "My brother has been missing since last Monday, and the police still haven't found him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

He has been missing since.

The New York Times

The diplomat has been missing since Sunday.

The New York Times

The apostrophe has been missing since time immemorial.

The Guardian - Film

He has been missing since 16 June 1964.

The Guardian

His brother-in-law, with whom he shared a room, has been missing since the bombing.

The New York Times

He has been missing since the U.S. invasion in 2003 and is presumed dead.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

A daughter has been missing since 1982.

The New York Times

She has been missing since last fall.

The New York Times

Ken Elliott has been missing since January 2016, not January 2015 as an earlier version said.

The Guardian

Tatiana Chevchenko was holding a photograph of her son, Egor, who has been missing since 2014.

The Guardian

Its lyrics were written by Peter Boxell, whose son Lee has been missing since 1988.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been missing since", ensure you clearly specify the date or event from which the subject has been absent to provide a clear timeline.

Common error

Avoid using "had been missing since" unless you are referring to a time in the past relative to another past event. "Has been missing since" refers to a present state resulting from a past event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been missing since" functions as a stative verb phrase indicating a continuous state of absence or disappearance from a specified time onward. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to describe a situation that began in the past and continues to the present.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been missing since" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a continuous state of absence from a specified time. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread use, especially in the news and media. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly define the starting point of the absence and avoid common errors like incorrect tense usage. Alternatives such as "has disappeared since" or "has not been seen since" can provide subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has disappeared since

Replaces "missing" with "disappeared", implying a more mysterious or unknown departure.

remains missing since

Adds "remains" to emphasize the continued state of being missing.

has not been seen since

Replaces "missing" with a direct statement of not being seen, emphasizing the lack of visual confirmation.

has not been located since

Emphasizes the lack of finding the missing subject, often used in official reports.

has been absent since

Substitutes "missing" with "absent", suggesting a lack of presence, often in an expected location.

has vanished since

Uses "vanished" for a more dramatic or sudden disappearance.

has been gone since

Uses "gone" instead of "missing", indicating a departure from a place or situation.

is still missing after

Highlights the duration of the missing status, adding a sense of urgency.

has not returned since

Focuses on the lack of return, suitable when the subject's return was expected.

was last seen on

Indicates the last known sighting, shifting the focus to a specific event.

FAQs

How do I use "has been missing since" in a sentence?

Use "has been missing since" to indicate that someone or something has not been found or seen from a specific point in time onward. For example, "The hiker has been missing since Tuesday".

What can I say instead of "has been missing since"?

You can use alternatives like "has disappeared since", "has not been seen since", or "was last seen on" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "had been missing since"?

While grammatically correct in certain contexts, "had been missing since" is used to describe a situation in the past relative to another past event. "Has been missing since" is more appropriate for describing a situation that continues to the present.

What's the difference between "has been missing since" and "went missing on"?

"Has been missing since" emphasizes the ongoing state of being missing from a specific time. "Went missing on" focuses on the event of disappearing on a particular date. For example, "He has been missing since Monday" versus "He went missing on Monday".