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 WebRobert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2024
The board agreed to move forward on a 3-to-1 vote, with Trustee Gary Hack dissenting and Clyde Lewis absent for the vote.
—Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 23 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for absent 
Adjective
Yet there’s too much testimony from his closest associates to believe him anything but a great boss, an open collaborator, a man who made art for the right reasons and a loving, if often absent, family man.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2024
The board agreed to move forward on a 3-to-1 vote, with Trustee Gary Hack dissenting and Clyde Lewis absent for the vote.
—Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 23 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for absent
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 3 Jun. 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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