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

“And so they did,” remembered Leah, “joyous sounds, all over the hall … It was like the return of long absent friends, whose value … we had not sufficiently appreciated.”

From Literature

Many other large fund managers are consistently absent because they don’t check all of the boxes in the categories we consider.

From Barron's

But remarks were much more muted, restrained or simply absent about remaining senior royals.

From BBC

But he had remained absent from tour singles competition since withdrawing from the US Open before his second-round match because of a left arm injury six months ago.

From BBC

The 32-year-old had been absent for nine matches with a thigh injury and there had been no real talk of a return.

From BBC

Related Words

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