absent

1 of 3

adjective

ab·​sent ˈab-sənt 

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 absent …

—M. 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 

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 

US, formal

: in the absence of (something) : without

Absent any objections, the plan will proceed.

Synonyms

Adjective

• missing
• out

Preposition

• without

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

Elaine Hendrix was absent from the Dancing With the Stars ballroom on Halloween Night. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025

The Senate is set to leave Washington on Thursday, absent more concrete progress. —Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 29 Oct. 2025

Verb

Zaccarelli wrote that Northlight thinks more volatility is possible in the coming weeks, but absent some kind of real blow to the economy, the market should stage a rebound later this year. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025

By demanding clarity and presence, the clear and present danger test intentionally protected political speech — even speech calling for the violent overthrow of the federal government — absent the immediacy and probability of the speech causing that result. —Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025

Preposition

Under no circumstances should Brett Kavanaugh be confirmed absent a full and complete investigation. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Fox News, 27 Sep. 2018

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

Phrases Containing absent

• absent-minded
• absent-mindedly
• absent-mindedness
• absent oneself
• absent without leave

Kids Definition

absent

1 of 2 adjective

ab·​sent ˈab-sənt 

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 

: to keep (oneself) away