absent
[ adjective, preposition ab-suhnt; verb ab-sent, ab-suhnt ]
/ adjective, preposition ˈæb sənt; verb æbˈsɛnt, ˈæb sənt /
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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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Origin of absent
OTHER WORDS FROM absent
ab·sen·ta·tion [ab-suhn-tey-shuhn], /ˌæb sənˈteɪ ʃən/, nounab·sent·er, nounab·sent·ness, nounnon·ab·sen·ta·tion, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences 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 forms of absent
absenter, nounWord 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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