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to miss out

to miss out

176 3.6
Lose the chance to enjoy something good
  • phrasal verb
  • /mɪs aʊt/
translation icon : perderse
  • If you don't attend the party, you will miss out on all the fun.
  • miss out on opportunities
  • miss out on benefits
  • miss out on experiences

The the brain is missing out on a lot of data.

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Examples

  • Also, the students rarely travel into Manhattan, missing out on numerous cultural and historical opportunities a short train ride away.

    Academic text (2015)
  • In doing so, they miss out on the benefits of sports participation.

    Academic text (2009)
  • I think our kids are missing out on the process.

  • Well, unfortunately, guys, you have missed out by just a moment.

  • Oh, shoot, you know, I missed out on a whole opportunity.

  • And I also believe that you miss out on all the growth together.

  • But you are missing out slightly on just what they say.

  • How have I missed out on this?

  • Nobody wants to miss out tonight.

  • Almost all students know of someone who has missed out on these benefits of physical activity.

    Academic text (2003)

Synonyms

to miss
vsto miss out
281 1.1

To not experience something bad that others have

is about failing to gain benefits or enjoy worthwhile experiences
to miss an opportunity
vsto miss out
14 2.8

Fail to use a chance to do something you want

is broader and includes failing to join enjoyable experiences
to miss the bus
vsto miss out
14 3.8

Fail to get on a bus before it leaves or lose an important chance

is more about not joining enjoyable events rather than only losing a single chance
to blow a chance
vsto miss out
  • Informal
8 4.9

Miss a good opportunity by making a mistake

is about failing to take part in enjoyable events or benefits

Antonyms

866 2.5

To join in an activity with other people

676 2.3

To help someone or be helped by something

How Beneficial

to benefit
676 2.3
to take part
169 1.4
to miss out
176 3.6

Surface Forms

miss out infinitive
missed out past
missed out past participle
missing out present participle
misses out third person singular

Morphology

miss + out

The sense 'to fail to benefit from or take advantage of something' is directly derivable from combining 'miss' (to fail to be present or to fail to catch) with 'out' (being excluded or left out), yielding the idea of being left out of an opportunity or experience. This is a straightforward phrasal-verb composition common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely infer the meaning.

Etymology

The phrasal verb miss out comes from a simple picture: miss (fail to catch) and out (being outside or left out), like missing a bus or standing outside a party while everyone is inside. So, it means 'to fail to get the good part of something' or 'not take part in something enjoyable'.