absent
-
1 not present (adj.) A2 Elementarynot in a place, especially when you are expected to be there like at school or work.
not present in a specific location or at a scheduled event.
ExampleSeveral students were absent from class today because of the flu.
ExampleThe manager noted that the employee had been absent from several key briefings without providing a valid medical certificate.
-
2 not paying attention (adj.) B2 Upper Intermediateshowing that you are thinking about something else and not looking at what is happening now.
exhibiting a lack of attention to immediate surroundings; preoccupied or distracted.
ExampleHe had an absent look on his face as if he were dreaming.
ExampleShe answered the phone with an absent nod, her mind clearly still occupied by the complex data on her screen.
Show 2 more sensesShow fewer
-
3 to stay away (v.) C1 Advanced Formalto choose not to go to a place where you should be.
to deliberately refrain from attending or being present; almost exclusively used reflexively with a pronoun like 'himself' or 'themselves'.
ExampleHe decided to absent himself from the meeting to avoid the argument.
ExampleThe board members were advised to absent themselves from the vote if they had a personal interest in the contract.
-
4 without (prep.) C2 Proficiency Formal Technical Lawa formal way to say 'without' or 'if something is not there'.
functioning as a preposition meaning 'in the absence of' or 'lacking'.
ExampleAbsent any further evidence, the police had to let the man go.
ExampleAbsent a clear directive from the head office, the local branch was unable to process the emergency funding request.
From Middle English absent, by way of Middle French absent and Old French ausent. These derive from the Latin absens, the present participle of absum, which combines the roots ab, meaning away, and sum, meaning to be.
From Middle English absenten, by way of Old French absenter, from the Late Latin absentāre. The term is recorded in the sense of keeping or being away.
Typically follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'remain'; when used before a noun, it often describes a lack of attention.
He was absent at the meeting.He was absent from the meeting.The adjective 'absent' typically takes the preposition 'from' to indicate the place or event missed.