absent

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparable

   Not present at a place, event, or duty where someone would normally be expected.

   Grammar: Usually predicative (be absent) or before a noun (an absent student); say absent from, not absent at.

   Patterns

   • be absent from something
   • an absent student
   • absent without leave

   Three students were absent from class today.

   She was absent for most of the morning.

   An absent father rarely appears in the story.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Showing that someone is thinking about something else and not paying attention.

   Grammar: Often describes a look, smile, expression, or voice rather than attendance.

   Patterns

   • an absent look
   • an absent smile
   • an absent expression

   He had an absent look during the long meeting.

   She gave an absent smile and turned back to her phone.

   There was an absent tone in his voice.

Common combinations

absent from class

Marco was absent from class because of a dentist appointment.

conspicuously absent

The usually talkative senator was conspicuously absent from the vote.

an absent expression

An absent expression crossed her face as she reread the email.

absent without leave

The soldier was reported absent without leave.

Synonyms and how they differ

away

Natural for not being at a place, but less formal and not used before nouns like an absent look.

missing

Suggests something or someone cannot be found; absent often means simply not there by expectation.

inattentive

Fits the distracted sense better than the not-present sense.

Opposites

Word family

absence noun

The state of being away or the lack of something.

absently adverb

In a distracted way.

absent-minded adjective

Forgetful or not noticing what is around you.

Commonly confused: absent or absence? absent or absent-minded?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “absent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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