absent-minded

or ab·sent·mind·ed

[ ab-suhnt-mahyn-did ]
/ ˈæb səntˈmaɪn dɪd /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR absent-minded ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

so lost in thought that one does not realize what one is doing, what is happening, etc.; preoccupied to the extent of being unaware of one's immediate surroundings.

Origin of absent-minded

First recorded in 1850–55

synonym study for absent-minded

Absent-minded, abstracted, oblivious all mean inattentive to immediate surroundings. Absent-minded suggests an unintentional wandering of the mind from the present: an absent-minded committee member. Abstracted implies that the mind has been drawn away from the immediate present by reflection upon some engrossing subject: an abstracted air. Oblivious implies absorption in some thought that causes one to be completely forgetful of or unaware of one's surroundings: oblivious of danger.

OTHER WORDS FROM absent-minded

ab·sent-mind·ed·ly, adverb ab·sent-mind·ed·ness, noun

Words nearby absent-minded

absence, absence makes the heart grow fonder, absence seizure, absent, absent without leave, absent-minded, absente reo, absentee, absentee ballot, absentee landlord, absentee vote

Words related to absentminded

abstracted, distracted, dreaming, faraway, oblivious, preoccupied, distrait, unseeing

Example sentences from the Web for absentminded

British Dictionary definitions for absentminded

absent-minded

adjective

preoccupied; forgetful; inattentive

Derived forms of absent-minded

absent-mindedly, adverb absent-mindedness, noun