absent
[ adjective, preposition ab-suhnt; verb ab-sent, ab-suhnt ]
/ adjective, preposition ˈæb sənt; verb æbˈsɛnt, ˈæb sənt /
adjective
not in a certain place at a given time; away, missing (opposed to present): absent from class.
lacking; nonexistent: Revenge is absent from his mind.
not attentive; preoccupied; absent-minded: an absent look on his face.
verb (used with object)
to take or keep (oneself) away: to absent oneself from a meeting.
preposition
in the absence of; without: Absent some catastrophe, stock-market prices should soon improve.
Origin of absent
OTHER WORDS FROM absent
ab·sen·ta·tion [ab-suhn-tey-shuhn] /ˌæb sənˈteɪ ʃən/, noun ab·sent·er, noun ab·sent·ness, noun non·ab·sen·ta·tion, nounWords nearby absent
Example sentences from the Web for absent
British Dictionary definitions for absent
absent
adjective (ˈæbsənt)
away or not present
lacking; missing
inattentive; absent-minded
verb (æbˈsɛnt)
(tr)
to remove (oneself) or keep away
Derived forms of absent
absenter, nounWord Origin for absent
C14: from Latin
absent-, stem of
absēns, present participle of
abesse to be away