Absent Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐ซ
absent
[หรฆbsษnt ]
Definitions
in school or work
not present in a place, especially when expected to be there
Synonyms
away, missing, not present.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| absent |
Used to describe someone who is expected to be somewhere (like at work or school) but is not.
|
| missing |
Usually denotes that something or someone is lost or cannot be found. This can have a negative or urgent connotation.
|
| away |
Used to describe someone who is temporarily not at a certain place, often because they are traveling or on vacation.
|
| not present |
A formal or neutral way to indicate that someone or something is not in the expected place, often used in documents or formal situations.
|
Examples of usage
- She was absent from school yesterday due to illness.
- He has been absent from work for a week.
feeling or attitude
not attentive or preoccupied; absent-minded
Synonyms
distracted, inattentive, preoccupied.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| absent |
Use when someone is physically not present.
|
| distracted |
Use when someone is unable to concentrate because their mind is on something else.
|
| preoccupied |
Use when someone's mind is so focused on something else that they are not aware of their surroundings.
|
| inattentive |
Use when someone is not paying attention to what they should be focusing on.
|
Examples of usage
- She had an absent look on her face during the meeting.
- He was so absent-minded that he forgot his own birthday.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Psychology
- Feeling absent can be linked to zoning out or daydreaming, where a person is physically present but mentally elsewhere.
- Children may often feel absent when they struggle with attention, making it hard for them to focus in class.
Education
- In schools, students are marked as absent when they don't attend, which can affect their grades and learning.
- Teacher attendance affects student performance; research shows that when teachers are frequently absent, student outcomes tend to decline.
Cultural References
- In literature, characters can feel emotionally absent, indicating a disconnect from their surroundings or relationships.
- Many songs and poems explore themes of absence, conveying feelings of loss or longing.
Pop Culture
- Movies often depict absent characters as those who are off on adventures, creating tension or emotional pull in the story.
- The concept of being absent is a common theme in songs, often reflecting on missing someone important in one's life.
Origin of 'absent'
Main points about word origin
- The word comes from the Latin 'absentem', meaning 'not being' or 'away'.
- In the 14th century, it was used in English to describe someone who is away from a place.
The word 'absent' originated from the Latin word 'absentem', which is the present participle of 'absentare', meaning 'to be away'. The use of 'absent' in English dates back to the 14th century. Over the centuries, it has evolved to encompass both physical absence and mental distraction.
See also: abs.
Word Frequency Rank
At position #2,870, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.
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