absent

Meanings

Adjective

• Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present; missing.
• Not existing; lacking.
• Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied.

Noun

• Something absent, especially absent people collectively; those who were or are not there.
• An absentee; a person who is not there.

Verb

• To keep (oneself) away.
• To keep (someone) away.
• Stay away; withdraw.
• Leave.

Related

Opposite words

• present

Origin

• From Middle English absent, from Middle French absent, from Old French ausent, and their source, Latin absens, present participle of absum, from ab + sum.
• From Middle English absenten, from Old French absenter, from Late Latin absentāre ("keep away, be away").