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

Isak will be absent once again - after breaking his leg last month - and Howe insisted he has long since "moved on".

From BBC

I’m sitting in the stuffy hotel room, listening, yet part of me is absent while my brain processes and engages with a conversation all my own.

From Literature

“Not just in helping people conduct research, but also advocacy at the federal government level and, absent their help, maintaining a refuge where research cannot easily be deleted or overwritten.”

From Salon

They also can’t “escort federal immigration agents to enforcement locations,” absent some “clear and immediate threat.”

From The Wall Street Journal

But several other Magnificent Seven leaders that also dominate the S&P 500 are conspicuously absent from the fund.

From Barron's

Related Words

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