misplace

verb

mis·​place ˌmis-ˈplās How to pronounce misplace (audio)
misplaced; misplacing; misplaces
Synonyms of misplacenext

transitive verb

1
a
: to put in a wrong or inappropriate place
misplace a comma
b
: mislay
misplaced the keys
2
: to set on a wrong object or eventuality
his trust had been misplaced
misplacement
ˌmis-ˈplās-mənt How to pronounce misplace (audio)
noun

Synonyms of misplace

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Examples of misplace in a Sentence

I seem to have misplaced my keys.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Christopher Lowe, director of the Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab, thinks that fear could be misplaced. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 But, as Daniel Immerwahr wrote for The New Yorker in 2023, this wellspring of panic was probably misplaced. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 Yasmine Helal believes that this widespread optimism is not misplaced. — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026 Keeping your own copies can be helpful if a document is misplaced or later requested. — Jason Phillips, Ascend Agency, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for misplace

Word History

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of misplace was in 1555

Rhymes for misplace

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Browse Nearby Words

mispickel
misplace
misplan
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Cite this Entry

“Misplace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misplace. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

misplace

verb
mis·​place (ˈ)mis-ˈplās How to pronounce misplace (audio)
1
: to put in a wrong place
2
: mislay
misplacement noun
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