absence
gb/ˈæbsəns/ us/ˈæbsəns/
A2
English
~ 1700
távollét, hiányzás, hiány
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
the absence of [someone/something]
Her absence from the meeting was noticed by everyone.
Mindenkinek feltűnt, hogy hiányzott a megbeszélésről.
During his absence, the team struggled to meet deadlines.
Távolléte alatt a csapat nehezen tudta tartani a határidőket.
There was a noticeable absence of laughter in the room.
The manager explained the rules in the absence of the director.
His long absence raised concerns among his friends.
Learner examples
She was absent from school yesterday.
Tegnap hiányzott az iskolából.
There is no teacher in the room, so we notice her absence.
A tanárnő nincs a teremben, ezért feltűnik a távolléte.
I saw an empty chair, showing his absence.
We talked about you in your absence.
His absence made the game less fun.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'absence' with 'holiday' or 'leave', but 'absence' only means not being present, without implying a reason.
Meaning
state of being away
Collocations
in someone's absence
|absence from work
|long absence
|total absence
|unexpected absence
Synonyms
nonattendance (More formal; often used for official or recorded situations.)
Antonyms
presence (Refers to the state of being in a place, the opposite of being absent.)
Themes
daily life
|work
|school
|daily_life
Definition
When someone or something is not in a place.
The state or condition of being away from a place or not present at an event.
NOUN
B1
2
hiány
A2
Usage pattern:
the absence of [something]
In the absence of clear rules, people did what they wanted.
Egyértelmű szabályok hiányában az emberek azt csinálták, amit akartak.
The absence of sunlight affects plant growth.
A napfény hiánya befolyásolja a növények növekedését.
There was a surprising absence of traffic this morning.
An absence of trust can ruin a relationship.
The report noted an absence of reliable data.
Learner examples
There is an absence of water in the desert.
A sivatagban vízhiány van.
The room was cold because of the absence of heat.
A szoba hideg volt a meleg hiánya miatt.
We could not play because of the absence of a ball.
The town is quiet because of the absence of cars.
I could not see because of the absence of light.
Common mistake:
Learners may use 'missing' instead of 'absence' in formal writing; 'absence' is preferred for abstract or formal contexts.
Meaning
lack or shortage of something
Collocations
absence of evidence
|absence of light
|complete absence
|apparent absence
Synonyms
lack (More general and common; can be used in more contexts.)
Antonyms
presence (In this sense, means the existence or availability of something.)
Themes
general
|science
|philosophy
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When something that should be there is missing.
The state in which something expected, needed, or desired is missing or does not exist.
Grammar
Dictionary form
absence
IPA
GB/ˈæbsəns/
US/ˈæbsəns/
Syllables & stress
ab - sence (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ab)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: absence
- Plural: absence, absences
Word family
Forms
absences
noun
Core family
absent
adjective A2
Related words
absently
adverb
absentee
noun B2
Advanced or less common
absenteeism
noun C1
Expressions
absence makes the heart grow fonder
1/ˈæbsəns mˈeɪks ðə hˈɑɹt ɡɹˈoʊ fˈɑndɚ/
idiom
being apart increases affection
When you are away from someone you love, you feel more love for them.
Examples
- They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I believe it after my trip.
- Being away for months proved that absence makes the heart grow fonder.
in someone's absence
1/ˈɪn sˈʌmwˌʌnz ˈæbsəns/
fixed phrase
when someone is not present
When a person is not there, something happens or is done.
Examples
- In her absence, I will lead the meeting.
- Decisions were made in his absence.
in the absence of
1/ˈɪn ðə ˈæbsəns əv/
fixed phrase
when something is missing or unavailable
When something is not there or not available, another thing happens or is done instead.
Examples
- In the absence of proof, we cannot convict him.
- In the absence of fresh milk, use powdered milk.