remained missing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "remained missing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has been lost and has not yet been found. Example: The keys remained missing for days despite an extensive search.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hundreds remained missing.

The Economist

Still, Karissa remained missing.

The New Yorker

Scores remained missing.

The New York Times

The others, however, remained missing.

The Guardian

Another crew member remained missing.

The New York Times

One Filipino tourist remained missing.

Independent

She remained missing for over two years.

The Guardian

Dozens more remained missing and feared dead.

The Guardian

A total of 277 people remained missing.

The Guardian

Three died, 14 remained missing and many others were hospitalised.

The Guardian

Her sister, Ernestina Sodi, kidnapped with her, remained missing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "remained missing" to convey the ongoing state of something or someone not being found, particularly after a search or investigation has commenced. It's effective in news reports, missing person cases, and historical accounts.

Common error

Avoid using "remained missing" when describing a situation where something was never found in the first place. Instead, use "was missing" or "has been missing" to indicate the initial state of being lost.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "remained missing" functions as a descriptive phrase indicating a continuing state of being lost or unaccounted for. This is supported by Ludwig, which confirms its correct usage. Examples showcase use in describing missing persons, objects, or data points.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "remained missing" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase to describe the ongoing state of being lost or unaccounted for. Ludwig confirms its proper usage across various contexts. It is most frequently found in news and media, with a neutral register suitable for formal and informal communications. Understanding its function and purpose, as well as related phrases and common errors, helps ensure its effective use in writing. Remember to use it to indicate the continuation of a state of being lost, particularly after a search or investigation has begun.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Continued to be missing

Focuses on the ongoing nature of the state of being missing.

Were still missing

Emphasizes the state of being missing at a particular point in time.

Were yet to be found

Highlights the lack of discovery.

Had not been located

Focuses on the absence of location.

Were still unaccounted for

Stresses the lack of accounting or explanation for their whereabouts.

Stayed lost

Highlights the continuation of being lost.

Were not recovered

Focuses on the lack of retrieval, often used in disaster contexts.

Persistence of their disappearance

More formal phrasing, emphasizing the duration of the disappearance.

The whereabouts were unknown

Highlights the lack of knowledge about their location.

Their fate was undetermined

Shifts focus to the uncertainty of their condition.

FAQs

How can I use "remained missing" in a sentence?

Use "remained missing" to indicate that something or someone was lost and continued to be so over a period of time. For example, "The hiker "remained missing" for several days despite the extensive search efforts."

What can I say instead of "remained missing"?

You can use alternatives like "continued to be missing", "were still missing", or "had not been located" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "still remained missing"?

While understandable, "still remained missing" can be redundant because "remained" already implies a continuation. It's generally better to use either ""remained missing"" or "were still missing" for clarity.

What's the difference between "was missing" and "remained missing"?

"Was missing" indicates the initial state of being lost, while ""remained missing"" implies a continuation of that state over time, often after a search or investigation has begun. For example, "The child was missing after the park visit. After three days, she "remained missing"".