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miss out

B1 neutral separable both
In simple words

To not get or experience something good that others are enjoying.

Literal meaning: To miss something that is out there available — not quite transparent, as the emotional sense of loss is idiomatic.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic neutral

To fail to experience or enjoy something beneficial that others are getting.

"If you don't come tonight, you'll really miss out — it's going to be a great party."

""Don't miss out on the chance to make history.""

— Hillary Clinton, 2016 US presidential campaign speech
Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 neutral

(British) To accidentally leave something out of a list, text, or sequence.

"You've missed out step four — that's why the instructions don't make sense."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral

To be excluded from a group, event, or benefit.

"She always felt she had missed out on a proper childhood because of her parents' constant moves."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Used both transitively ('miss out a word') meaning to omit, and intransitively ('miss out on something') meaning to fail to benefit. 'Miss out on' is extremely common. The transitive omission sense is primarily British English.

Commonly used with

opportunity experience deal fun education childhood

Forms

Base
miss out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
misses out
he/she/it
Past simple
missed out
yesterday
Past participle
missed out
have + pp
-ing form
missing out
continuous

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Synonyms

lose out be left out pass up forgo omit skip

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