Missing vs She's not showing at all

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

Missing

Top 2,000 (common)A2adjective

She's not showing at all

Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Missing
 MissingShe's not showing at all
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //ʃiːz nɒt ˈʃoʊɪŋ æt ɔːl//🇺🇸 //ʃiz nɑt ˈʃoʊɪŋ æt ɔl//
MeaningNot present or lost.She is completely absent or not present.
ExampleShe was missing her keys and couldn't find them anywhere.I called her, but she's not showing at all.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR levelA2-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsbe, go, discover somebody, completely, entirely, totally, from, missing in action, missing, presumed dead, be, go, discover somebody, completely, entirely, totally, from, missing in action, missing, presumed dead, be, go, discover somebody, completely, entirely, totally, from, missing in action, missing, presumed dead, be, go, discover somebody, completely, entirely, totally, from, missing in action, missing, presumed deadshowing up, not showing, missing out
Antonymspresent, found, availablepresent, attending
Common mistakes'Missing' used as a noun instead of an adjective., Confused with 'missed' in situations involving time., 'Missing' used without an object, leading to confusion.Using 'she's not showing up at all' interchangeably, which may sound awkward in some contexts., Confusing 'showing' with 'showing up'., Omitting 'at all' and saying 'she's not showing'.
Usage notesUse 'missing' to describe something that cannot be found. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid it in highly technical discussions where specific terms are needed.Use in casual conversations to describe someone who is missing. Avoid in formal settings.

See it in real clips

Missing
She's not showing at all

Frequently asked questions: Missing vs She's not showing at all

What's the difference between Missing and She's not showing at all?

Missing: Not present or lost. She's not showing at all: She is completely absent or not present.

Which is more common: Missing and She's not showing at all?

Missing is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Missing: She was missing her keys and couldn't find them anywhere. She's not showing at all: I called her, but she's not showing at all.

Can I use Missing and She's not showing at all interchangeably?

Not always. Missing and She's not showing at all 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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