absently
Americanadverb
adverb
Etymology
Origin of absently
Vocabulary lists containing absently
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Life is full of conflagrations,” he remarks, somewhat absently.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
“Oh,” he muttered absently as he paused before a tower of brass movie cans, “what do we have here?”
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 23, 2023
He wonders whether he should wear a tux just to study the music, “holding the score against his chest, stroking it absently, like a kitten.”
From Washington Post ● Apr. 20, 2023
It was 80 degrees, but Hadi only removed his beanie briefly, to absently rub a long, silvery scar that stretched across the top of his head.
From Salon ● Dec. 15, 2022
I dropped the clothes into a large basket and called goodbye to Ma and Togbe, who waved me off absently, heads still bowed between the leafy maize shoots.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
