adj B1 Intermediate Common

absent

AB-snt

Absent (adj) means not present in a place where one is expected to be. Example: “Three students were absent from class today.”

adj

Not present in a place where one is expected to be.

"Three students were absent from class today."

"He remained absent from work for two weeks after the accident."

Distracted or lost in thought; not paying attention to what is happening.

"He gave an absent nod, clearly thinking about something else."

verb

To deliberately keep oneself away from somewhere.

"She absented herself from the argument entirely."

How to Use Absent

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot there — whether physically missing from a place, or mentally somewhere else.

Common mistake

As a verb ("to absent oneself"), it is formal and reflexive — you don't simply say "I absented" without "myself/yourself" etc.

Common pairings

absent from absent-minded absent without leave

Word Forms

absenter comparative, absented past tense, absents plural, absents singular, absentest superlative

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Three students were _____ from class today.

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").

Origin: Latin

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.

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Words With Latin Origins