absence
- 1The state of being away from a place or from other people.
Like an empty chair where someone usually sits.
Her absence from home left the house feeling empty.
During his long absence, his friends often thought of him.
Oppositepresence
Note
- 2The fact of not being somewhere when you are expected to be there.
Like an empty seat in class when someone does not come.
The teacher recorded his absence after he missed class again.
Repeated absences can lead to problems at work.
Similarnonattendance, nonappearance
Oppositeattendance, presence
Note
- 3
- 4The length of time that someone is away.
Like the days between a friend leaving and coming back.
He returned to work after a three-week absence.
Her absence lasted the whole summer.
Note
- 5Not paying attention to what is around you because your mind is elsewhere.
Like daydreaming so hard that you forget where you are.
A moment of absence made her miss her bus stop.
His absence of mind during the lecture worried his teacher.
Similarabstraction, inattention, distraction, preoccupation
Oppositeattention, attentiveness
Note
- 6A short loss of awareness that starts and ends suddenly, often in epilepsy.
Like a light flicking off and back on in a second.
The child's brief absence went unnoticed at first.
During an absence, she stared blankly and did not respond.
Note
- 7In fencing, the moment when the two blades are not touching.
Like letting go of hands so there is open space between you.
The fencer used the absence to launch a quick attack.
A sudden absence of the blades opened a chance to strike.
Note
Practice
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Origin
From Latin absentia, meaning being away. It came into English through Old French.