AWOL

or awol, A.W.O.L., a.w.o.l.

[ pronounced as initials or ey-wawl, ey-wol ]

adjective, adverb

away from military duties without permission, but without the intention of deserting.

noun

a soldier or other military person who is absent from duty without leave.

Idioms about AWOL

go AWOL,
- to depart from military duty without leave.
- to absent oneself without explanation.

Origin of AWOL

First recorded in 1915–20; A(bsent) W(ith)o(ut) L(eave)

Also absent without leave .

Words Nearby AWOL

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use AWOL in a sentence

The school system declared them AWOL, began docking their pay and locked them out of their virtual classrooms.
Lawsuits, lockouts and strike threats: Fights to reopen classrooms reach a head in several school districts | Moriah Balingit | February 8, 2021 | Washington Post
It centers on Kanan Jarrus (voiced by Freddie Prinze Jr.), a wisecracking AWOL Jedi and leader of the Ghost crew.
‘Star Wars Rebels’ Explores the Jedi’s Lost Years Between the Prequels and the Original Trilogy | Annaliza Savage | August 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
They went AWOL all around the world—from the waters around Antarctica to just off a Japanese Island—for a host of reasons.
Lost Ocean Rover Leaves Gap in Biology and Alzheimer's Research | Beenish Ahmed | June 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But elected Republicans seem AWOL in the fight to take back their party.
The Bill Clinton and DLC Model For Reinventing the Republican Party | Will Marshall | March 14, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
During a moment of crisis, Mohammed Morsi was AWOL, sending the wrong signal to Americans and Egyptians alike.
How Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi Failed | Vivian Salama | September 13, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST

Pauly D takes one for the team and entertains the grenade to The Situation's girl of the moment…until he goes AWOL.
9 Great Jersey Shore Moments | Sujay Kumar, The Daily Beast Video | July 28, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
They were easy enough to trace, and the kids gave themselves away by all eight of them being AWOL from their one o'clock classes.
A Mixture of Genius | Arnold Castle

British Dictionary definitions for AWOL

AWOL

A.W.O.L.

/ (ˈeɪwɒl) /

adjective

military absent without leave; absent from one's post or duty without official permission but without intending to desert

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with AWOL

AWOL

see absent without leave.

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