Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO): Definition, Examples & Tips

Meaning 1：Anxiety about missing out (Fear Of Missing Out)

Fear Of Missing Out 🔊

/ˈfɪr əv ˈmɪsɪŋ aʊt/

A feeling of worry that others are having fun or having good experiences without you, often caused by seeing posts on social media.

Person alone at night looking at phone showing friends partying, illustrating FOMO anxiety

Anxiety about missing out 🔊

➕

/æŋˈzaɪəti əˈbaʊt ˈmɪsɪŋ aʊt/

A persistent feeling of worry that one might be missing out on rewarding experiences that others are having, often triggered by social media posts.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Combination of 'fear' (anxiety) + 'missing out' (losing opportunities).

💡 Mnemonic

Party photos alone at home? That anxious feeling is FOMO.

📖 Example

After scrolling through all the vacation photos on his phone, a strong sense of Fear Of Missing Out made him decide to book a last-minute trip with his friends. 🔊 After scrolling through all the vacation photos on his phone, a strong sense of Fear Of Missing Out made him decide to book a last-minute trip with his friends.

🔗 Collocations

have FOMO – to experience the fear of missing out

social media FOMO – the anxiety caused by seeing others' activities online

FOMO-driven decision – a choice made to avoid missing out

🔄 Synonyms

social anxiety (n.) – anxiety related to social situations and acceptance

exclusion anxiety (n.) – fear of being left out

envy (n.) – a feeling of jealousy towards others' experiences

🚫 Antonyms

contentment (n.) – a state of satisfaction and peace with one's own experiences

JOMO (n.) – joy of missing out; the pleasure of skipping social events

📖 Cultural Story

Coined in 2004 by marketing strategist Dan Herman; popularized by Patrick McGinnis in a 2004 Harvard Business School article. Now a common term in digital culture.