absent

American  

[ab-suhnt, ab-sent, ab-suhnt] / ˈæb sənt, æbˈsɛnt, ˈæb sənt /

adjective

1. not in a certain place at a given time; away, missing (present ).

   absent from class.

   Synonyms:

   off, out

   Antonyms:

   present

2. lacking; nonexistent.

   Revenge is absent from his mind.

3. not attentive; preoccupied; absent-minded.

   an absent look on his face.

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verb (used with object)

1. to take or keep (oneself ) away.

   to absent oneself from a meeting.

preposition

1. in the absence of; without.

   Absent some catastrophe, stock-market prices should soon improve.

absent British  

adjective

1. away or not present

2. lacking; missing

3. inattentive; absent-minded

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verb

1. (tr) to remove (oneself) or keep away

Other Word Forms

• absentation noun
• absenter noun
• absentness noun
• nonabsentation noun

Etymology

Origin of absent

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin absent-, stem of absēns “being away,” present participle of abesse “to be away,” from ab- ab- + esse “to be”

Example Sentences

Noticeably absent from the home is a traditional front door.

From The Wall Street Journal

The format typically featured a handsome photograph of an empty, book-lined study, under which ran an explanatory account by the absent author identifying those elements particularly conducive to his or her creative process.

From The Wall Street Journal

Oil analysts anticipate that absent a quick resolution, Europe and the U.S. could start seeing prices that look more like the $180 levels in the Middle East.

From Barron's

Items which take longer to cook are absent from menus.

From BBC

The idea was to compose a show that even those who weren’t “Monty Python” fans would enjoy, with hints of romance and sincerity absent from the source material.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• devoid
• empty
• lacking
• missing
• nonexistent
• unavailable
• vacant