# absent

/ˈæbsənt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/absent
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Senses

### 1. not present

adjective · CEFR A2

not in a place, especially when you are expected to be there like at school or work.

For teachers: not present in a specific location or at a scheduled event.

- Several students were absent from class today because of the flu.
- The manager noted that the employee had been absent from several key briefings without providing a valid medical certificate.

### 2. not paying attention

adjective · CEFR B2

showing that you are thinking about something else and not looking at what is happening now.

For teachers: exhibiting a lack of attention to immediate surroundings; preoccupied or distracted.

- He had an absent look on his face as if he were dreaming.
- She answered the phone with an absent nod, her mind clearly still occupied by the complex data on her screen.

### 3. to stay away

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to choose not to go to a place where you should be.

For teachers: to deliberately refrain from attending or being present; almost exclusively used reflexively with a pronoun like 'himself' or 'themselves'.

- He decided to absent himself from the meeting to avoid the argument.
- The board members were advised to absent themselves from the vote if they had a personal interest in the contract.

### 4. without

preposition · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a formal way to say 'without' or 'if something is not there'.

For teachers: functioning as a preposition meaning 'in the absence of' or 'lacking'.

- Absent any further evidence, the police had to let the man go.
- Absent a clear directive from the head office, the local branch was unable to process the emergency funding request.

## Examples

- Several students are absent today because of the flu.
- The manager was notably absent from the meeting where the new budget was discussed.
- Although he was physically present in the room, his absent expression suggested that his mind was preoccupied with more pressing matters elsewhere.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He was absent at the meeting." but "He was absent from the meeting." — The adjective 'absent' typically takes the preposition 'from' to indicate the place or event missed.

## Usage notes

- Typically follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'remain'; when used before a noun, it often describes a lack of attention.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.