went missing

USAGE SUMMARY

"went missing" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English that is used to describe when something or someone is not present or cannot be found.
Example: The professor's textbook went missing the day before the final exam.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A tape went missing.

The New York Times

Instead, he went missing.

The New York Times

Then the dog went missing.

The New Yorker

Some 25 people went missing.

The Economist

People went missing.

The New York Times

One went missing.

The Guardian

But they often went missing.

Independent

His ashes went missing.

The Guardian - Travel

People just went missing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Certainly, two messages went missing.

The Guardian

In 1984 she went missing.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "went missing" to describe a situation where someone or something has disappeared and their whereabouts are unknown. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Ensure the subject of "went missing" is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Instead of saying "It went missing", specify what or who disappeared: "The key went missing."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "went missing" functions as the past tense of the verb phrase "go missing". It describes the act of something or someone disappearing or becoming lost. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "went missing" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that describes the act of something or someone disappearing. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a standard way to report a disappearance across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, "went missing" serves to inform about a loss or absence, maintaining a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. While alternatives like ""disappeared"" or ""vanished"" exist, "went missing" provides a clear and direct way to convey that someone or something is no longer present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disappeared

Focuses solely on the act of vanishing, without necessarily implying a search or concern.

vanished

Suggests a sudden and complete disappearance, often implying a mysterious element.

was lost

Indicates a state of being unable to be found, often implying being misplaced rather than intentionally gone.

couldn't be found

Emphasizes the inability to locate something or someone, often used in a passive context.

turned up missing

Implies a discovery of something's absence, focusing on the realization of the loss.

was nowhere to be seen

Highlights the lack of visibility or presence of something or someone.

absconded

Suggests a secretive and often illegal departure, usually by someone with obligations.

strayed

Implies a wandering or deviation from a designated path, leading to being lost.

left without a trace

Emphasizes the complete absence of any evidence or indication of departure.

became absent

A more formal way of saying someone or something is no longer present.

FAQs

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

Use "went missing" to indicate that someone or something has disappeared or cannot be found. For example, "The child "disappeared" from the park", or "The important document "vanished" from the office".

What's the difference between "went missing" and "was lost"?

"Went missing" suggests a more mysterious or concerning disappearance, while "was lost" often implies misplacement or accidental loss. For example, a person "went missing", but a set of keys "was lost".

What can I say instead of "went missing"?

You can use alternatives like ""disappeared"", ""vanished"", or "was nowhere to be found" depending on the context.

Is "gone missing" grammatically correct compared to "went missing"?

While "gone missing" is sometimes used, "went missing" is generally considered more standard and grammatically correct in formal English. Choose "went missing" for professional or academic writing.