absent
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for absent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Not present in a place where one is expected to be.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use absent
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French absent, from Latin absens, the present participle of absum, "to be away from" — built from ab ("away") and sum ("to be").
Full origin of absent →Frequently asked questions
What does “absent” mean?
The word “absent” means not present in a place where one is expected to be. In plain terms, not there — whether physically missing from a place, or mentally somewhere else.
How do you pronounce “absent”?
“Absent” is pronounced AB-snt (/ˈæb.sn̩t/ in IPA).
How do you use “absent” in a sentence?
Here is “absent” used in a sentence: “Three students were absent from class today.”
What part of speech is “absent”?
Depending on how it is used, “absent” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “absent” come from?
The word “absent” comes from Latin. From Old French absent, from Latin absens, the present participle of absum, "to be away from" — built from ab ("away") and sum ("to be").
Is “absent” a common word?
“Absent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “absent” have?
“Absent” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not present in a place where one is expected to be.
What is the difference between absent and absence?
Absent is the adjective — 'she was absent from school' — while absence is the noun naming the state: 'her absence was noticed.' A common mistake is writing 'in his absent'; after 'in his' or 'in her' the noun absence is required.
What is the difference between absent and missing?
Absent means not present in a place where someone or something is expected to be, as with a pupil absent from class. Missing suggests that something cannot be found or accounted for, and it often carries worry, as in a missing wallet or a missing person.
How is absent used as a verb?
As a verb, absent is almost always reflexive: you absent yourself from a place, meaning you deliberately keep away from it, as in 'he absented himself from the meeting.' The verb is stressed on the second syllable (ab-SENT), unlike the adjective (AB-sent).