Word
absence
Phoneticsab·sence, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈæbsəns/
UK/ˈæbsəns/
Definitions
01being away
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the state of not being in a place where you are usually found.
n. the state of being away from a place or person. Uncountable in its abstract sense but often used with possessives.
日本語:不在※
“His absence from the meeting was noticed by everyone in the office.”
“The manager requested a formal explanation for his repeated absence from mandatory safety briefings over the last quarter.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'from'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02time spent away
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a period of time when someone is not there.
n. the specific duration or instance of being away. Countable when referring to specific occasions.
日本語:留守※
“After a long absence of five years, she finally returned to her hometown.”
“During his two-week absence, the deputy director assumed all responsibilities for the department's daily operations.”
03a lack of something
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Academic
n. the fact that something does not exist or is not present.
n. the non-existence or lack of a specific component, quality, or entity.
日本語:欠如※
“The total absence of light in the cave made it impossible to see.”
“The researchers were surprised by the complete absence of any chemical residue in the soil samples collected from the site.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'in the absence of'.
Synonyms
04medical seizure
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Medicine Technical
n. a short time when someone loses consciousness or stops reacting, often caused by epilepsy.
n. a brief loss or disruption of consciousness with a sudden onset, typically associated with petit mal epilepsy.
“The child had a brief absence where he stared into space for a few seconds.”
“The patient's history of absence seizures required a specialized neurological consultation to adjust her medication levels.”
Teaching tip
In a medical context, this is often called an 'absence seizure' rather than just 'an absence'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “absence” in context.
Adjective
01. virtual absence
“There was a virtual absence of wind, making the lake look like a giant mirror.”
adj + noun
Noun
02. absence of
“The total absence of evidence made it impossible for the police to charge the suspect.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“The Hogsmill release last year marked the return of the rodent to the county after an absence of more than 20 years.” “In the absence of ticket sales data, this allowed us to consistently measure like-for-like prices for each event, while reducing the impact of different pricing structures and models across the festivals.” “For most scientists, the real mystery about aliens isn’t their presence but their stubborn absence.” “Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said he remained committed to implementing this year's pay award but was currently unable to do so in the absence of an agreed budget.” Etymology
The word entered Middle English from Old French absence or ausence. It is derived from the Latin absentia, which is the noun form of absēns, the present active participle of the verb absum.
The construction of absum relies on the preposition ab, meaning from or away from, and sum, the verb to be. This Latin root descends from the Proto-Italic ap and ezom. The term is, quite literally, the state of being elsewhere.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/absence
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0