absent
[ adjective, preposition ab-suhnt; verb ab-sent, ab-suhnt ]
/ adjective, preposition ˈæb sənt; verb æbˈsɛnt, ˈæb sənt /
adjective
not in a certain place at a given time; away, missing (opposed to present): absent from class.
lacking; nonexistent: Revenge is absent from his mind.
not attentive; preoccupied; absent-minded: an absent look on his face.
verb (used with object)
to take or keep (oneself) away: to absent oneself from a meeting.
preposition
in the absence of; without: Absent some catastrophe, stock-market prices should soon improve.
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RELATED WORDS
away, removed, vanished, missing, unavailable, lacking, vacant, nonexistent, devoid, empty, ghost, gone, blank, wanting, hollow, bare, omitted, astray, elsewhere, hooky
Nearby words
- abscopal effect,
- abseil,
- absence,
- absence makes the heart grow fonder,
- absence seizure,
- absent without leave,
- absent-minded,
- absentation,
- absente reo,
- absentee
Origin of absent
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for absent
absent
adjective (ˈæbsənt)
away or not present
lacking; missing
inattentive; absent-minded
verb (æbˈsɛnt)
(tr) to remove (oneself) or keep away
Word Origin for absent
C14: from Latin absent-, stem of absēns, present participle of abesse to be away
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper