missout: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal to neutral. More common in speech and casual writing.
Quick answer
What does “missout” mean?
To fail to experience, get, or be included in something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To fail to experience, get, or be included in something; to omit.
To lose an opportunity; to be excluded, either deliberately or by oversight, from an activity, benefit, or group.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or frequency. Both varieties use it equally.
Connotations
Identical connotations of loss or exclusion.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “missout” in a Sentence
[Subject] + miss out + on + [noun phrase (opportunity/event/benefit)][Subject] + miss + [object] + out (less common, BrE, meaning 'omit')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “missout” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Don't miss out on the early-bird discount.
- I think you've missed out a name from the list.
American English
- You'll really miss out if you don't see this show.
- Make sure the software update doesn't miss out any critical devices.
adverb
British English
- He looked on miss-out-edly as others collected their prizes.
American English
- N/A - Extremely rare and non-standard.
adjective
British English
- The missed-out generation felt left behind by economic changes.
American English
- She had a sense of being missed-out when friends didn't invite her.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"Companies that ignore digital transformation risk missing out on new markets."
Academic
"The study's narrow focus meant it missed out on crucial socio-economic factors."
Everyday
"I had to work, so I missed out on the party."
Technical
Rare in highly technical contexts; more common in project management: "The initial specs missed out several key user requirements."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “missout”
- *I don't want to miss out the fun. (Correct: 'miss out ON the fun')
- *She missed out to go to the concert. (Correct: 'missed out ON GOING to' or 'missed the chance to go')
- Confusing 'miss out' (intransitive) with 'leave out' (transitive).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually no. The standard pattern is 'miss out on something'. In British English, 'miss something out' (meaning to omit) is possible but less common.
'Miss out' is usually intransitive and focuses on the person/thing experiencing the loss ('I missed out'). 'Leave out' is transitive and focuses on the person doing the omitting ('They left me out').
Rarely. Only in the specific BrE meaning 'to omit' as in 'He missed a page out of the report.' For the main meaning of losing an opportunity, 'on' is required.
Yes. FOMO stands for 'Fear Of Missing Out', describing the anxiety that others are having rewarding experiences from which you are absent. It directly derives from this phrasal verb.
To fail to experience, get, or be included in something.
Missout is usually informal to neutral. more common in speech and casual writing. in register.
Missout: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪs ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɪs ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Miss the boat (similar meaning for opportunity)”
- “Left out in the cold (similar feeling of exclusion)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MISSED opportunity that you are OUT of. You are 'out' of the fun, so you 'miss out'.
Conceptual Metaphor
OPPORTUNITY IS AN OBJECT PASSING BY (if you don't grab it, you miss out). INCLUSION IS BEING INSIDE (to miss out is to be left outside).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'miss out' CORRECTLY?