absence
AB-sns
Absence (noun) means the state of not being in a place where one is expected. Example: “His absence from the meeting was noted by the board.”
noun
1
The state of not being in a place where one is expected.
"His absence from the meeting was noted by the board."
"Her prolonged absence worried her colleagues."
"The teacher asked why there had been so much absence from class this week."
2
A lack or non-existence of something.
"The project stalled due to the absence of proper funding."
"In the absence of a map, we simply followed the signs."
"The absence of any clouds meant it would be a hot day."
How to use absence
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither being away from somewhere you're expected, or simply the lack of something.
Easily confused with
absents
Common pairings
leave of absence
in the absence of
notable absence
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Word forms
- Plural
- absences
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His _____ from the meeting was noted by the board.
Etymology
From Old French absence, ultimately from Latin absentia, based on absum, "to be away" — from ab ("away from") plus sum ("to be").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for absence
See all rhymes for absence →Frequently asked questions
What does “absence” mean?
The word “absence” means the state of not being in a place where one is expected. In plain terms, either being away from somewhere you're expected, or simply the lack of something.
How do you pronounce “absence”?
“Absence” is pronounced AB-sns (/ˈæb.s(ə)n̩s/ in IPA).
How do you use “absence” in a sentence?
Here is “absence” used in a sentence: “His absence from the meeting was noted by the board.”
What is another word for “absence”?
Words with a similar meaning to “absence” include missingness.
What is the opposite of “absence”?
The opposite of “absence” — its antonyms — are presence, existence, possession and sufficiency.
What part of speech is “absence”?
“Absence” is a noun.
Where does the word “absence” come from?
The word “absence” comes from Latin. From Old French absence, ultimately from Latin absentia, based on absum, "to be away" — from ab ("away from") plus sum ("to be").
Is “absence” a common word?
“Absence” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "absence" and "lack"?
"Absence" means something is missing from where it would normally be, while "lack" stresses that there is not enough of something, or none at all. You might note the "absence of the manager" from a meeting, but a "lack of funds" for a project.
What is the difference between "absence" and "absent"?
"Absence" is the noun naming the state of being away or missing, while "absent" is the adjective. You would say "her absence was noticed" but "she was absent from class."
What prepositions are used with "absence"?
"Absence" commonly pairs with "of" (an absence of evidence), "from" (absence from work), and appears in the fixed phrase "in the absence of," meaning "without" or "when something is not there."
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