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 WebCaitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 1 Oct. 2024
Rumors had another date pencilled in for the Boston area’s Gillette Stadium, though this was absent from Monday’s announcement.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2024
Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 21 Sep. 2021
And absent any final words the students are stuck in an academic no-man’s land, unable to connect formally with their school and unsure about how to plan for the upcoming quarter.
—Victoria Le, Orange County Register, 7 Aug. 2024
Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Fox News, 27 Sep. 2018
See all Example Sentences for absent 
Adjective
Successful cleanups tempered by new threats from climate change
Vance flip-flopped on climate change, prioritizes fossil fuel interests
Climate change was absent from the Republican 2024 platform.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 1 Oct. 2024
Rumors had another date pencilled in for the Boston area’s Gillette Stadium, though this was absent from Monday’s announcement.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2024
Verb
Each side’s demands are understandable but hard for the other side to agree to absent difficult political decisions at the highest level.
—Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 21 Sep. 2021
And absent any final words the students are stuck in an academic no-man’s land, unable to connect formally with their school and unsure about how to plan for the upcoming quarter.
—Victoria Le, Orange County Register, 7 Aug. 2024
Preposition
Under no circumstances should Brett Kavanaugh be confirmed absent a full and complete investigation.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Fox News, 27 Sep. 2018
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 8 Oct. 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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