Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

absent

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of absent

1 not at a certain place
  • Three students were absent because of the flu.
Synonyms of absent

away, missing, out
Words Related to absent

AWOL, truant

departed, gone, retired

abroad, vacationing
Near Antonyms of absent

accompanying, attending, participating
Antonyms of absent

here, in, present
2 not present or in evidence
  • The city's usual stir of activity was conspicuously absent due to the report of an escaped lion from the zoo.
Synonyms of absent

lacking, missing, nonexistent, wanting
Words Related to absent

dead, departed, extinct, lost, perished, vanished

defunct, done, expired, finished, lapsed, obsolete, over, passé

inadequate, insufficient, rare, scarce, sparse, uncommon
Near Antonyms of absent

active, alive, animate, living, thriving

current, going, prevailing, uncanceled

common, prevalent

apparent, conspicuous, evident, obvious, plain
Antonyms of absent

existent, present
3 lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions
  • seemed absent when I told him you were coming because he nodded but didn't say anything
Synonyms of absent

absentminded, abstracted, distracted, preoccupied
Words Related to absent

absorbed, daydreaming, dreaming, dreamy, engrossed, faraway, intent, pensive, rapt

heedless, inattentive, insensible, oblivious, unaware, unconscious, unheeding, unknowing, unmindful, unperceptive, unthinking, unwary, unwitting, vacant

befogged, befuddled, bemused, bewildered, birdbrained, clueless, confused, dazed, flighty, foggy, forgetful, forgetting, hazy, muddled, scatterbrained, unfocused (also unfocussed)
Near Antonyms of absent

alive, attentive, aware, conscious, engaged, heads-up, heedful, mindful, observant, observing, open-eyed, sharp, vigilant, wary, watchful, wide-awake

clearheaded
Antonyms of absent

alert

Synonym Discussion of absent

abstracted, preoccupied, absent, absentminded, 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
absentminded implies that the mind is fixed elsewhere and often refers to a habit of abstractedness.
    • so absentminded, 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

absent

preposition

Synonyms and Antonyms of absent

not having
  • Absent a significant source of investment funds, the fledgling company continues to struggle.
Synonyms of absent

minus, sans, wanting, without

Learn More about absent

  1. See words that rhyme with absent Dictionary: Definition of absent Spanish Central: Translation of absent Nglish: Translation of absent for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of absent for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up absent? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games