absolute
gb/ˈæbsəlˌut/ us/ˈæbsəlˌut/
B2
English
~ 2500
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
Complete and without limits
Complete and without any limits or conditions.
Usage pattern:
[something] is absolute
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'absolute' with 'absolutely', which is an adverb. 'Absolute' describes a noun, while 'absolutely' modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
Synonyms
total (Emphasizes entirety without any reduction or limitation.)
|
complete (Focuses on being whole or fully developed.)
Antonyms
partial (Indicates something is incomplete or only part of a whole.)
|
limited (Indicates restrictions or boundaries are present.)
Collocations
absolute power
|absolute certainty
|absolute truth
|absolute majority
|absolute control
Themes
degree
|certainty
|logic
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The dictator held absolute power over the country.
- I have absolute confidence in her abilities.
- There is no such thing as absolute freedom in society.
- He demanded absolute loyalty from his team.
- The data provides absolute proof of the theory.
Learner examples
- She has absolute trust in her friend.
- The king had absolute control of the land.
- I am in absolute agreement with you.
- This is absolute truth.
- He has absolute authority here.
adjective
C1
property
2
Independent and not comparative
Not compared to other things; standing alone and fixed.
Usage pattern:
absolute [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with 'complete' or 'total', though here it means 'not dependent on other things'.
Synonyms
fixed (Implies unchanging and set in place.)
|
independent (Implies not dependent on other factors.)
Antonyms
relative (Depends on or is compared to something else.)
Collocations
absolute value
|absolute temperature
|absolute standard
Themes
philosophy
|science
|core_vocabulary
|education
Examples
- In physics, absolute zero is the lowest possible temperature.
- Moral values are not absolute but vary across cultures.
- The judge insisted on applying an absolute standard of justice.
- They measured the absolute distance between the two points.
Learner examples
- Absolute zero is very cold.
- Some people think truth is absolute.
- The rule is absolute in this school.
- We use absolute numbers in math.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
3
Something existing independently
An idea or thing that exists on its own, not compared to others.
Synonyms
ultimate reality (Used mainly in philosophy for the most fundamental existence.)
Collocations
the Absolute
Themes
philosophy
|science
|education
Examples
- Philosophers have long debated the nature of the Absolute.
- In his theory, God is the Absolute.
- Some believe love is the Absolute that drives all human action.
Learner examples
- Some people think God is the Absolute.
- The Absolute is an idea in philosophy.
- The Absolute exists without change.
Grammar
Dictionary form
absolute
IPA
GB/ˈæbsəlˌut/
US/ˈæbsəlˌut/
Syllables & stress
ab - so - lute (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ab)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: absolute
Noun
- Base: absolute
- Plural: absolutes
Word family
Forms
absolutes
noun
Core family
absolutely
adverb A2
Negative and opposite forms
relative
adjective A2
Advanced or less common
absoluteness
noun
absolutism
noun
absolutist
noun
Expressions
absolute power corrupts absolutely
1/ˈæbsəlˌut pˈaʊɚ kɚˈʌpts ˌæbsəlˈutli/
idiom
formal
Total power causes corruption
If someone has complete power, they will become corrupt.
Examples
- They say that absolute power corrupts absolutely, which is why checks and balances are important.
- History shows that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
absolute power corrupts absolutely
2/ˈæbsəlˌut pˈaʊɚ kɚˈʌpts ˌæbsəlˈutli/
idiom
literary
Total control leads to corruption
If someone has too much control, they will become dishonest or bad.
Examples
- History shows that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
- They warned that giving him full control was dangerous because absolute power corrupts absolutely.
absolute zero
1/ˈæbsəlˌut zˈɪɹoʊ/
fixed phrase
technical
Lowest possible temperature
The coldest temperature possible, −273.15°C, where atoms stop moving.
Examples
- Scientists have never reached absolute zero, but have come very close.
- Scientists have cooled gases close to absolute zero.
- At absolute zero, molecular motion stops entirely.
- Absolute zero is −273.15°C.