definitions

absent

[ adjective, preposition ab-suhnt; verb ab-sent, ab-suhnt ]
/ adjective, preposition ˈæb sənt; verb æbˈsɛnt, ˈæb sənt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR absent ON THESAURUS.COM

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, absent without leave, absent-minded, absentation, absente reo, absentee

Origin of absent

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin absent- (stem of absēns, present participle of abesse to be away (ab- ab- + -s- be (see is) + -ent- -ent))
Related formsab·sen·ta·tion [ab-suhn-tey-shuhn] /ˌæb sənˈteɪ ʃən/, nounab·sent·er, nounab·sent·ness, nounnon·ab·sen·ta·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for absent

British Dictionary definitions for absent

absent

adjective (ˈæbsənt)

away or not present
lacking; missing
inattentive; absent-minded

verb (æbˈsɛnt)

(tr) to remove (oneself) or keep away
Derived Formsabsenter, noun

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012