absent

1 of 3

adjective

ab·​sent ˈab-sənt How to pronounce absent (audio)
1
: not present at a usual or expected place : missing
was absent from class today
sharing memories of absent friends
She was conspicuously absent [=her absence was very noticeable] at the meeting.
2
: not existing : lacking
… danger in a situation where power is absentM. H. Trytten
a gene that occurs in mammals but is absent in birds
3
: showing a lack of attention to what is happening or being said : not attentive
had an absent look on her face
an absent reply
absently adverb
He replied absently to her question.

absent

2 of 3

verb

ab·​sent ab-ˈsent How to pronounce absent (audio)
ˈab-ˌsent
absented; absenting; absents

transitive verb

: to keep (oneself) away
He absented himself from the meeting.

absent

3 of 3

preposition

ab·​sent ˈab-sənt How to pronounce absent (audio)
US, formal
: in the absence of (something) : without
Absent any objections, the plan will proceed.
Choose the Right Synonym for absent

abstracted, preoccupied, absent, absent-minded, distracted mean inattentive to what claims or demands consideration.

abstracted implies absorption of the mind in something other than one's surroundings, and often suggests reflection on weighty matters.

walking about with an abstracted air

preoccupied often implies having one's attention so taken up by thoughts as to neglect others.

too preoccupied with her debts to enjoy the meal

absent stresses inability to fix the mind on present concerns due more to mental wandering than to concentration on other matters.

an absent stare

absent-minded implies that the mind is fixed elsewhere and often refers to a habit of abstractedness.

so absent-minded, he's been known to wear mismatched shoes

distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety.

was too distracted by grief to continue working

Examples of absent in a Sentence

Adjective an absent father who is not home most of the time a gene that occurs in mammals but that is absent in birds a landscape in which vegetation is almost entirely absent He made an absent reply to her question as he continued to watch the TV. Preposition Absent any objections, the plan will proceed. Absent such an agreement we can go no further.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Yet there’s too much testimony from his closest associates to believe him anything but a great boss, an open collaborator, a man who made art for the right reasons and a loving, if often absent, family man. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2024 The board agreed to move forward on a 3-to-1 vote, with Trustee Gary Hack dissenting and Clyde Lewis absent for the vote. Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 23 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for absent 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'absent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin absent-, absens, present participle of abesse "to be away, be absent," from ab- ab- + -sens, present participle (attested only with prefixes) of esse "to be" — more at is entry 1

Verb

Middle English absenten, borrowed from Anglo-French absenter, borrowed from Late Latin absentāre, verbal derivative of Latin absent-, absens absent entry 1

Preposition

derivative of absent entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Preposition

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of absent was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near absent

Cite this Entry

“Absent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/absent. Accessed 3 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

absent

1 of 2 adjective
ab·​sent ˈab-sənt How to pronounce absent (audio)
1
: not present or attending : missing
2
: not existing
enthusiasm was absent
3
: lost in thought : preoccupied
absently adverb

absent

2 of 2 verb
ab·​sent ab-ˈsent How to pronounce absent (audio)
: to keep (oneself) away

More from Merriam-Webster on absent

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