absent

UK: adjective: /ˈæbs^ənt/, verb: /æbˈsɛnt/

US: /adj. ˈæbsənt; v. æbˈsɛnt, ˈæbsənt/

US: (adj., prep. ab′sənt; v. ab sent′, ab′sənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ab•sent /adj. ˈæbsənt; v. æbˈsɛnt, ˈæbsənt/   adj. 

1. not in a certain place at a given time;
   not present:
   He was absent from class again.
2. lacking;
   nonexistent:
   Revenge was absent from his mind.
3. not attentive;
   preoccupied;
   absent-minded:
   [before a noun] an absent stare.

v. [~ + oneself (+ from + object)]

4. to take or keep (oneself ) away:
   to absent oneself from a meeting.

ab•sent•ly, adv. 
Related Words

absent is an adjective, absence is a noun:
John was absent from school. Any more absences and John will be dropped from the course.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ab•sent  (adj., prep. ab′sənt;v. ab sent′, ab′sənt), adj. 

1. not in a certain place at a given time;
   away, missing (opposed to present):
   absent from class.
2. lacking;
   nonexistent:
   Revenge is absent from his mind.
3. not attentive;
   preoccupied;
   absent-minded:
   an absent look on his face.

v.t. 

4. to take or keep (oneself ) away:
   to absent oneself from a meeting.

prep. 

5. in the absence of;
   without:
   Absent some catastrophe, stock-market prices should soon improve.

• Latin absent- (stem of absēns, present participle of abesse to be away (ab- ab- + -s- be (see is) + -ent- -ent))
• Middle English 1350–1400

ab•sen•ta•tion  (ab′sən tā′shən), n.  ab•sent′er, n. 
ab′sent•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. out, off.

Antonyms

• 1. present.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

absent adjective / ˈæbsənt/

1. away or not present
2. lacking; missing
3. inattentive; absent-minded

verb / æbˈsɛnt/

1. (transitive) to remove (oneself) or keep away

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin absent-, stem of absēns, present participle of abesse to be away