Entry Word: absent

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 not at a certain place <three students were absent because of the flu>

Synonyms away, missing, out

Related Words AWOL, truant; departed, gone, retired; abroad, vacationing

Near Antonyms accompanying, attending, participating

Antonyms here, present

2 not present or in evidence <the usual stir of activity was absent in the city due to the report of an escaped lion from the zoo>

Synonyms lacking, missing, nonexistent, wanting

Related Words dead, departed, extinct, lost, perished, vanished; defunct, done, expired, finished, lapsed, obsolete, over, passé; inadequate, insufficient, rare, scarce, sparse, uncommon

Near Antonyms active, alive, animate, living, thriving; current, going, prevailing, uncanceled; common, prevalent; apparent, conspicuous, evident, obvious, plain

Antonyms existent, present

3 lost in thought and unaware of oneʼs surroundings or actions <seemed absent when I told him you were coming because he nodded but didnʼt say anything> — see absentminded 1