absence
nounUK /ˈæb.s(ə)n̩s/ · /ˈæb.sn̩ts/
Etymology From Middle English absence, from Old French absence, ausence, from Latin absentia, from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“to be away or absent”), from ab (“from, away from”) + sum (“to be”).
7 senses
- 1A state of being away or withdrawn from a place or from…
- 2The period of someone being away.
- 3Failure to be present where one is expected, wanted, or…
- 4Lack; deficiency; non-existence.
- 5Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind).
- 6Temporary loss or disruption of consciousness, with…
- 7Lack of contact between blades.
Usually A state of being away or withdrawn from a place or from companionship
- Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Usually The period of someone being away.
- During Jane's absence, Mark will be taking charge.
- Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Philippians 2:12:
Usually Failure to be present where one is expected, wanted, or needed; nonattendance; deficiency.
- Harry Kane was an absence in that first half. He touched the ball 11 times despite Spurs taking 62% of possession.2018 September 15, Barney Ronay, “Finely tuned Liverpool are really getting into Jürgen Klopp’s groove”, in The Guardian:
- Then, in January, a creeping tsunami of train cancellations, triggered by major staff absences as a result of the aggressive transmissibility of Omicron, heaped further misery on rail users.2022 January 12, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Unhappy start to 2022”, in RAIL, number 948, page 3:
Usually Lack; deficiency; non-existence.
- He had an absence of enthusiasm.
- in the absence of higher and more authoritative sanctions the ordinances of foreign states, the opinions of eminent statesmen, and the writings of distinguished jurists, are regarded as of great consideration on questions not settled by conventional law1826, James Kent, Commentaries on American Law:
1 more example
- The narrow streets that twist and turn through the compact heart of Dent are surfaced with cobbles which, in the absence of pavements, spread right across from doorstep to doorstep.1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 150:
Usually Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind).
- absence of mind
- Reflecting on the little absences and distractions of mankind.1711 June 8 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “MONDAY, May 29, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 77; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume I, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:
1 more example
- To conquer that abstraction which is called absence.c. 1824-1829, Walter Landor, Imaginary Conversations:
Medicine, Sciences Usually Temporary loss or disruption of consciousness, with sudden onset and recovery, and common in epilepsy.
Fencing, Government, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Martial arts, Military, Politics, Sports, War Usually Lack of contact between blades.
- Synonyms
- missingness
- Antonyms
- presence, existence, possession, sufficiency
- Derived terms
- absement, absence makes the heart go yonder, absence makes the heart grow fonder, absence of mind, absence seizure, absence without leave, conspicuous by one's absence, in the absence of, leave of absence, nonabsence, omniabsence, pseudoabsence
- Related terms
- absent, absentee, absenteeism, absential