First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1absent
adjective ab·sent \ˈab-sənt\
: not present at a usual or expected place
: not present at all : not existing
: showing that a person is thinking about something else : showing a lack of attention to what is happening or being said
Full Definition of ABSENT
1
: not present or attending : missing
2
: not existing : lacking <danger in a situation where power is absent — M. H. Trytten>
3
: lost in thought : not attentive
— ab·sent·ly adverb
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Origin of ABSENT
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin absent-, absens, present participle of abesse to be absent, from ab- + esse to be — more at is
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>.
2absent
verb ab·sent \ab-ˈsent, ˈab-ˌ\
Definition of ABSENT
transitive verb
: to keep (oneself) away
See absent defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of ABSENT
15th century
Rhymes with ABSENT
accent, Advent, anent, ascent, assent, augment, besprent, cement, comment, consent, content, convent, descent, detent, dissent, docent, event, extent, ferment, foment, fragment, frequent, hell-bent, indent, intent, invent, lament, loment, low-rent, mordent, outspent, percent, pigment, portent, present, prevent, pup tent, quitrent, rack-rent, relent, repent, resent, segment, Shymkent, Tashkent, torment, well-meant, wisent
3absent
preposition ab·sent \ˈab-sənt\
: in the absence of (something)
Full Definition of ABSENT
See absent defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of ABSENT
1944
ABSENT Defined for Kids
absent
adjective ab·sent \ˈab-sənt\
Definition of ABSENT for Kids
1
: not present <I missed a field trip when I was absent.>
2
: not existing <Trees were absent from the desert landscape.>
3
: showing a lack of attention <an absent stare>
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