Meaning & use
missed an opportunity
Last updated
“missed an opportunity” is a form of “miss an opportunity”.
Meanings
phraseidiom
Failed to take a chance to do something good or useful when it was available.
Grammar: This is the past tense form of 'miss an opportunity'. It takes an object: you miss an opportunity to do something or for something.
Patterns
- missed an opportunity to do something
- missed an opportunity for something
- missed a great opportunity
She missed an opportunity to study abroad because she applied too late.
We missed an opportunity to work with a talented young designer.
He felt he had missed an opportunity for promotion by not speaking up.
phraseidiom
Lost a chance to gain something valuable, often because of a delay or mistake.
Grammar: Often used with 'by doing something' to explain the mistake that caused the loss.
Patterns
- missed an opportunity by doing something
- missed a golden opportunity
The team missed an opportunity by ignoring the customer feedback.
They missed a golden opportunity to expand into Asia.
I missed an opportunity by not buying shares when they were cheap.
Common combinations
- missed an opportunity to
- She missed an opportunity to learn from a real expert.
- missed a great opportunity
- He missed a great opportunity to travel with the team.
- missed an opportunity by
- They missed an opportunity by waiting too long to decide.
- sadly missed an opportunity
- The government sadly missed an opportunity to help small businesses.
Synonyms and how they differ
- missed the chance
- Missed the chance is very similar but slightly more informal and common in speech.
- let something slip
- Let something slip suggests you allowed it to escape gradually; missed an opportunity is more direct.
- missed the boat
- Missed the boat is an informal idiom with the same idea; missed an opportunity is neutral and can be used in any situation.
Opposites
Commonly confused: missed an opportunity or missed opportunity?
missed an opportunity vs missed opportunity
Missed opportunity is a noun phrase meaning a chance that was lost; missed an opportunity is a verb phrase saying that someone lost it.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'missed an opportunity' correctly.
Choose one answer.
The correct pattern is 'miss an opportunity to do something'. Option 1 uses 'to study', which is the natural infinitive pattern after 'opportunity'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “missed an opportunity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.