absent-minded
or ab·sent·mind·ed
[ab-suh nt-mahyn-did]
- so lost in thought that one does not realize what one is doing, what is happening, etc.; preoccupied to the extent of being unaware of one's immediate surroundings.
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Origin of absent-minded
First recorded in 1850–55
Synonyms
See more synonyms for absent-minded on Thesaurus.comwithdrawn, musing, daydreaming, dreamy, forgetful, distracted.
Synonym study
Absent-minded, abstracted, oblivious all mean inattentive to immediate surroundings. Absent-minded suggests an unintentional wandering of the mind from the present: an absent-minded committee member. Abstracted implies that the mind has been drawn away from the immediate present by reflection upon some engrossing subject: an abstracted air. Oblivious implies absorption in some thought that causes one to be completely forgetful of or unaware of one's surroundings: oblivious of danger.
Antonyms
attentive, alert, heedful, observant.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for absentmindedly
Historical Examples
"Maybe—maybe they did it kind of absentmindedly," Pee-wee said.
Pee-wee HarrisPercy Keese Fitzhugh
You have moved down there for us, and came in here now absentmindedly?
Tommy TregennisMary Elizabeth Phillips
M. Raindal followed her, absentmindedly playing with his gloves.
Two banks of the SeineFernand Vandrem
Then, begged for one lump, she absentmindedly dropped in three, while talking with Starr.
The Chauffeur and the ChaperonC. N. Williamson
He made his way around the house at the back, absentmindedly feeling for his coat pocket and his pipe.
The Lilac GirlRalph Henry Barbour
absent-minded
- preoccupied; forgetful; inattentive
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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