Forgot vs Miss

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Forgot

Top 1,000 (very common)

Miss

Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
 ForgotMiss
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //fəˈɡɒt//🇺🇸 //fərˈɡɑt//🇬🇧 /["/mɪs/","/ˈmɪsɪz/","/mɪst/","/ˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/mɪs/","/ˈmɪsɪz/","/mɪst/","/ˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/
MeaningTo fail to remember something.To not catch or hit something.
ExampleI forgot my wallet at home.I miss my family when I am away from home.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-A1
Part of speechverb
Collocationsforget someone's name, forget a lesson, forget an appointmentcompletely, barely, just, by, completely, easily, cannot, completely, easily, cannot, completely, easily, cannot
Antonymsremember, recallcatch, hit, achieve
Common mistakesConfusing 'forgot' with 'forget'. 'Forgot' is past tense., Using 'forgot' without an object when it needs one., Mispronouncing the word, especially the ending.'Miss' is sometimes confused with 'miss out on', which has a different meaning., 'Miss' should not be used as a noun unless referring to a title (like 'Miss Smith')., Learners may use 'miss' instead of 'lose' when discussing something that was once owned.
Usage notesCommonly used in everyday conversation. Avoid using in very formal writing. More often used in past tense.Use 'miss' when referring to not being able to catch or reach something. It can also refer to feelings, like missing someone. Avoid using it in overly formal situations.

See it in real clips

Forgot
Miss

Frequently asked questions: Forgot vs Miss

What's the difference between Forgot and Miss?

Forgot: To fail to remember something. Miss: To not catch or hit something.

Can you show an example of each?

Forgot: I forgot my wallet at home. Miss: I miss my family when I am away from home.

Can I use Forgot and Miss interchangeably?

Not always. Forgot and Miss are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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