How to Say “Sorry I Missed Your Call” (Email Samples)

Life can get in the way at any moment. And sometimes that means we might miss a professional phone call.

But you should know what to say instead of “sorry I missed your call” in a formal email to keep things professional and polite.

This article has gathered the best synonyms to help you do exactly that.

• I’m very sorry I missed you
• I know I missed your call, and I’m sorry
• I apologize for missing your call
• I’ve been caught up at work
• I’ve been really busy lately
• I’m afraid I missed your call
• Please forgive me if I made you wait
• I’m sorry for making you wait on me
• What did you want to call me about?

So, keep reading to learn how to say “sorry I missed your call” professionally. We’ve also provided email samples to help you with it.

1. I’m Very Sorry I Missed You

When discussing an unanswered call, sometimes it’s best to leave “your call” out of the phrase. There’s nothing wrong with simply saying “I’m very sorry I missed you.” If anything, it’s a more personal phrase that shows you regret missing someone over the phone.

We recommend using it when emailing coworkers. It’s a much more friendly alternative to “sorry I missed your call” which comes with genuine regret. That’s why it’s best when talking to people you have a better personal connection with.

Check out the following example to see how it works:

Dear Bradley,

I’m very sorry I missed you on Friday. I had a few things come up that I simply could not miss.

All the best,
Franklin Beaner

2. I Know I Missed Your Call, and I’m Sorry

You should acknowledge that you missed someone’s call as soon as possible. That’s why this phrase starts with “I know I missed your call.” It’s a clear acknowledgment of your mistake, showing that you own it and take responsibility.

From there, “I’m sorry” does the trick. You shouldn’t overcomplicate matters when figuring out how to apologize for missing a call. “Sorry” is always one of the best forms of apology out there.

Also, here’s an email sample to show you more about it:

Dear Romero,

I know I missed your call, and I’m sorry. Did you want to discuss anything specific while I’m here?

Kind regards,
Amy Schumacher

3. I Apologize for Missing Your Call

“I apologize for missing your call” is a great option in formal emails. You can say “I apologize” in more professional settings because it sounds more sincere than a simple “I’m sorry.”

Generally, this works best when emailing clients. It shows that you regret missing their business call. Usually, you’d also include something to try and make it up to them after missing their original call.

Perhaps this example will help you understand it better:

Hi Bobby,

I apologize for missing your call. Please let me make it up to you by taking you to a business lunch on Tuesday.

Best wishes,
Sally Trainer

4. I’ve Been Caught up at Work

You can use something like “I’ve been caught up at work” as an excuse in many situations. In this case, it works well to show how to respond to a missed call by text or email.

It’s a great option in business emails because it shows that you’ve been too busy with work to answer someone. Of course, that also means you can’t use it when emailing your boss because it will sound like you’re accusing them of setting too much work.

Instead, stick to using it when emailing colleagues. It’s a fairly friendly option that shows you were working when they tried to call you.

You can also refer to this sample email if you’re stuck:

Dear Hughie,

I’ve been caught up at work lately, so I haven’t had time to answer phone calls. I’m so sorry about that.

All the best,
Suzanna Barker

5. I’ve Been Really Busy Lately

You can always try to use your business as an excuse when you miss someone’s call. Something like “I’ve been really busy lately” is a great synonym because it shows you have a lot on your plate and can’t get around to everything.

Generally, the email recipient will accept this as an excuse. It shows you regret not being able to answer their call.

You can also ask what they wanted to talk about when using this phrase to show interest in the reason for the original phone call.

Check out this email sample if you still need help:

Dear Hazel,

I’ve been really busy lately, so I haven’t had a chance to look at my phone. What did you want to talk about?

Yours,
Peter Adams

6. I’m Afraid I Missed Your Call

“I’m afraid I missed your call” shows you how to return a missed call professionally. It’s a great alternative to “sorry I missed your call” because it usually allows you to set up a more appropriate time to call someone.

For instance, you might email a client to tell them you regret missing them. However, if you’re now free to call them, you can include that in the email to tell them that it’s better if they call you now.

Here’s a useful email example to show you how it works:

Dear Bethany,

I’m afraid I missed your call. I hope it wasn’t anything too important. Though, you may call me now if it helps.

Yours,
Joey Trust

7. Please Forgive Me if I Made You Wait

We recommend using “please forgive me if I made you wait” to take responsibility for your actions. It’s a polite alternative that shows you regret missing someone’s call and don’t want to blame anything else for doing so.

This is a great phrase when emailing clients. After all, taking responsibility in this way is very respectful and shows that you value them as a client and don’t want to lose their trust.

Why not check out the following example to help you as well:

Dear Benjamin,

Please forgive me if I made you wait the other day. I did not realize that you were calling me at the time.

Kind regards,
Bella Bexley

8. I’m Sorry for Making You Wait on Me

It’s worth saying something like “I’m sorry for making you wait on me” to accept responsibility for missing someone’s call. It’s a very polite alternative that shows nobody but yourself is to blame for missing someone’s call.

We recommend using this when you respect the email recipient. This could apply in many cases. One such example is emailing your favorite colleagues. It shows you never wanted to let them down and miss their call.

Here’s a great email sample if you’re still unsure:

Hi Sue,

I’m sorry for making you wait on me. It was never my intention to miss your phone call at that time.

All the best,
Sarah Jessica Smith

9. What Did You Want to Call Me About?

So far, all the synonyms have been statements. However, you can also ask a question after missing someone’s call. Something like “what did you want to call me about?” is a great question that shows interest in the purpose of the call.

It’s clear and direct and lets you get right to the point. Generally, this works best when you want to determine whether someone’s call was important and if they want to discuss anything related to it.

Check out the following example to help you with it:

Dear Margaret,

What did you want to call me about? I think I have a few spare hours now if you’d like to discuss matters further.

Best,
George O’Neill

Is “Sorry I Missed Your Call” Correct?

It is correct to say “sorry I missed your call.” In fact, it’s one of the most common ways to apologize to somebody for not picking up when they wanted to contact you.

Generally, this phrase works well in formal emails or settings. It shows that you missed someone’s call because you were busy with other work.

However, it’s worth mentioning that sometimes you don’t even need to apologize for missing someone’s call. There are plenty of reasons why you might not be able to answer a phone call, and you don’t have to apologize for each and every one.

Pick and choose the ones you want to apologize for. Keep it polite and professional, and you’ll get it right every time.