absent
Americanadjective
verb (used with object)
preposition
adjective
-
away or not present
-
lacking; missing
-
inattentive; absent-minded
verb
Other Word Forms
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”
Explanation
Absent means not there. If you absent yourself from class, you're marked as absent. If you have an absent parent, it means they don't live with you or take part in your care. Absent can also describe a state of mind, meaning "not all there" or "lost in thought." If you are absent from class on a test day, you will have to explain your absence, unless your teacher is so absent minded she forgets and just gives you an A.
Vocabulary lists containing absent
Education and Academics, List 2
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Module 3: Assessed Vocabulary Guide
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Lacking
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But Dong was absent last year, and China said Thursday it would send experts and scholars from its army's study institutions this time.
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
“The objective evidence here shows that, absent Abrego’s successful lawsuit challenging his removal to El Salvador, the Government would not have brought this prosecution,” the judge wrote.
From Slate • May 28, 2026
You were born in Sioux City, Iowa, one of eight children to a largely absent father who drove a truck and a mother who worked as a nurse.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
Notably absent from the doc are the child actors who were a part of the main cast on “Wishbone,” including Jordan Wall, Christie Abbott and Adam Springfield.
From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026
F’s at school because I was absent and absent and absent again.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
