1
: not present at a usual or expected place : missing
was absent from class today
sharing memories of absent friends
She was conspicuously absent [=her absence was very noticeable] at the meeting.
2
: not existing : lacking
… danger in a situation where power is absent …—
M. H. Trytten
M. H. Tryttena gene that occurs in mammals but is absent in birds
3
: showing a lack of attention to what is happening or being said : not attentive
had an absent look on her face
an absent reply
absently
adverb
He replied absently to her question.
absented; absenting; absents
: to keep (oneself) away
He absented himself from the meeting.
ab·sent
ˈab-sənt 
Synonyms
Examples of absent in a Sentence
Adjective
an absent father who is not home most of the time
a gene that occurs in mammals but that is absent in birds
a landscape in which vegetation is almost entirely absent
He made an absent reply to her question as he continued to watch the TV.
Preposition
Absent any objections, the plan will proceed.
Absent such an agreement we can go no further.
Recent Examples on the WebUSA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
Some of the most memorable moments of the film, such as Noah hanging off a Ferris wheel in order to get Allie to date him, are also absent, and intentionally so, says Michaelson.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2024
The Prince and Princess of Wales have been noticeably absent from public engagements in recent months, as the couple privately grappled with the news of Kate’s cancer diagnosis.
—Simmone Shah, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
Selena Ceja, who has a large and lovely operatic voice and endearing stage presence, leads the cast as 19-year-old Natasha, who forsakes her absent fiancé Andrey for the handsome but deceptive womanizer Anatole, played with oozing wolfish charm by Michael Louis Cusimano.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2024
In the House, two House Republicans who were previously registered as absent would need to also vote in favor of the bill to override the governor's veto.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2024
Last school year, 36% of the district's students, including kindergarteners, were chronically absent, but with about two months left to go in the 2023-24 school year, 30% of kids are on track to be chronically absent.
—The Arizona Republic, 12 Apr. 2024
However, three House Republicans were absent from the vote, meaning supporters may have enough votes to override Kelly’s veto.
—Jenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
The Mountain West was conspicuously absent from the announcement.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
Christopher Helman, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
But absent a weakening labor market, price growth may be stuck above the 2% target, given wage and home price increases that remain elevated, the Citi analysts said.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 13 Feb. 2024
Ultimately, there is only so much Samsung can do absent its own OS.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024
But absent a cessation of hostilities, the war could convulse the region, bringing in anti-Israel factions based in Lebanon and Syria, and spawning an unprecedented flow of Palestinian refugees into Egypt.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2023
The big question here is whether Microsoft has control over OpenAI, absent an official acquisition.
—Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2023
And absent a war with Iran or a resurgence of ISIS, this trend will continue.
—Steven Simon and Adam Weinstein, Foreign Affairs, 27 Sep. 2023
His father then absented himself from the boy’s life, leaving him nothing upon his death a few years later, when Pratt was thirteen.
—Hazlitt, 6 Sep. 2023
Investors are demanding historically high yields for US Treasury notes that mature in July, which by some estimates is when the United States will default on its debt, absent any legislative action.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 20 Apr. 2023
Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Fox News, 27 Sep. 2018
Adjective
If the sky is dark, and the moon is absent during this year's show, experts say, at peak viewers can expect to see 10 to 15 Lyrids each hour.
—USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
Some of the most memorable moments of the film, such as Noah hanging off a Ferris wheel in order to get Allie to date him, are also absent, and intentionally so, says Michaelson.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2024
The Prince and Princess of Wales have been noticeably absent from public engagements in recent months, as the couple privately grappled with the news of Kate’s cancer diagnosis.
—Simmone Shah, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
Selena Ceja, who has a large and lovely operatic voice and endearing stage presence, leads the cast as 19-year-old Natasha, who forsakes her absent fiancé Andrey for the handsome but deceptive womanizer Anatole, played with oozing wolfish charm by Michael Louis Cusimano.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2024
In the House, two House Republicans who were previously registered as absent would need to also vote in favor of the bill to override the governor's veto.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2024
Last school year, 36% of the district's students, including kindergarteners, were chronically absent, but with about two months left to go in the 2023-24 school year, 30% of kids are on track to be chronically absent.
—The Arizona Republic, 12 Apr. 2024
However, three House Republicans were absent from the vote, meaning supporters may have enough votes to override Kelly’s veto.
—Jenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
The Mountain West was conspicuously absent from the announcement.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
Verb
At current rates of cash burn, and absent additional financing acrobatics, SunPower will likely end up strapped again later this year.
—Christopher Helman, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
But absent a weakening labor market, price growth may be stuck above the 2% target, given wage and home price increases that remain elevated, the Citi analysts said.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 13 Feb. 2024
Ultimately, there is only so much Samsung can do absent its own OS.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024
But absent a cessation of hostilities, the war could convulse the region, bringing in anti-Israel factions based in Lebanon and Syria, and spawning an unprecedented flow of Palestinian refugees into Egypt.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2023
The big question here is whether Microsoft has control over OpenAI, absent an official acquisition.
—Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2023
And absent a war with Iran or a resurgence of ISIS, this trend will continue.
—Steven Simon and Adam Weinstein, Foreign Affairs, 27 Sep. 2023
His father then absented himself from the boy’s life, leaving him nothing upon his death a few years later, when Pratt was thirteen.
—Hazlitt, 6 Sep. 2023
Investors are demanding historically high yields for US Treasury notes that mature in July, which by some estimates is when the United States will default on its debt, absent any legislative action.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 20 Apr. 2023
Preposition
Under no circumstances should Brett Kavanaugh be confirmed absent a full and complete investigation.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Fox News, 27 Sep. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'absent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near absent
Cite this Entry
“Absent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/absent. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
absent
1 of 2 adjective
ab·sent
ˈab-sənt
1
: not present or attending : missing
2
: not existing
enthusiasm was absent
3
: lost in thought : preoccupied
absently
adverb
absent
2 of 2 verb
ab·sent
ab-ˈsent
: to keep (oneself) away
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