miss·ing

/ˈmısıŋ/ adj

1 : unable to be found : not in a usual or expected place

My keys are missing. [=I can't find my keys]

One of his front teeth is missing. [=he does not have one of his front teeth; he is missing one of his front teeth]

a missing tooth

missing children

— often + from

A few books are missing from the shelf.

She discovered that some important papers were missing from her desk.

— sometimes used in the phrase go missing

My keys have gone missing again. [=I cannot find my keys again; my keys are missing again]

◇ This phrase is more common in British English than in U.S. English.

2 : needed or expected but not included

The new director has provided the missing ingredient that was needed for the show's success.

It's a good sauce, but there's something missing. [=it lacks something that would make it better]

— often + from

There was something missing from his life.

missing in action

— used to say that a soldier cannot be found after a battle and might have been killed, captured, or wounded

soldiers who are missing in action and presumed dead