absent
gb/ˈæbsənt/ us/ˈæbsənt/
A2
Inglés
~ 6800
Acepciones
0 acepciones
adjective
A2
property
1
not present in a place
Not in a place where you are expected to be, like school, work, or a meeting.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] is absent from [something]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes say *"He didn't come school"* instead of *"He was absent from school"* or *"He didn't come to school"*. Remember to use the verb *be* with *absent* and the preposition *from*: *"He was absent from school."* They may also confuse *absent* (adjective) with *absence* (noun): *"His absence from work"* vs. *"He was absent from work."*
Sinónimos
missing (Often used when someone or something is not where it should be and people notice or are worried.)
|
not present (More explicit and slightly more formal; often used in written or careful speech.)
Antónimos
present (Describes someone who is in the place or situation where they are expected to be.)
Colocaciones
absent from work
|absent from school
|absent from class
|absent from the meeting
|chronically absent
|an absent member
Temas
daily life
|work
|school
|core_vocabulary
|education
Ejemplos
- Three students were absent from class today.
- He has been absent from work all week due to illness.
- Several key players were absent from the match.
- Her name was noticeably absent from the guest list.
- If you are absent from the exam, you will need a medical note.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Tom was absent from school yesterday.
- Two workers were absent from the meeting.
- She is often absent from class.
- If you are absent from work, you must call your boss.
- I was absent from the party because I was sick.
adjective
formal
B2
property
2
not existing or available
Not there or not available when it is needed or expected, especially in a formal or written context.
Patrón de uso:
absent [something], [result]
Error frecuente:
Learners may try to use this formal pattern *"Absent [something]"* in casual speech, where it can sound unnatural. In everyday English, it is usually better to say *"Without [something]"* or *"If there is no [something]"*, for example: *"Without proof, we can't act"* instead of *"Absent proof, we can't act."*
Sinónimos
lacking (Very close in meaning but slightly more common in everyday use and less formal than this sense of *absent*.)
|
without (A more basic preposition; often used in place of this formal *absent* construction in spoken English.)
Antónimos
available (Stresses that something exists and can be used or consulted.)
|
present (Emphasizes that something exists in the situation or context being discussed.)
Colocaciones
absent evidence
|absent proof
|absent data
|absent a deal
|absent any explanation
|absent any clear rules
Temas
law
|science
|business
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- Absent any clear evidence, the committee decided to postpone its decision.
- The report concludes that, absent reform, the system will eventually fail.
- Absent strong leadership, the project quickly lost direction.
- Policies cannot be effective absent reliable data.
- Absent a written agreement, it may be hard to enforce these terms.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Absent any proof, the police could not make an arrest.
- The plan will continue, absent new information.
- Absent a clear rule, people do what they want.
- Absent strong laws, companies may not change their behavior.
- Absent good data, the study is not very useful.
adjective
C1
property
3
not paying attention; distracted
Not really thinking about what is happening around you; your mind is far away.
Patrón de uso:
an absent [look/expression/manner]
Error frecuente:
Learners often use *absent-minded* when they mean a short moment of not paying attention. Use *absent* for a single look or moment (*"an absent look"*), and *absent-minded* for a person's usual character (*"He is very absent-minded."*).
Sinónimos
distracted (Very close in meaning; more common in modern speech for someone not fully paying attention.)
|
absent-minded (Suggests a habitual tendency to forget things, while *absent* here usually describes a momentary state or expression.)
Antónimos
attentive (Describes someone who is clearly paying close attention to what is happening.)
Colocaciones
an absent look
|an absent expression
|an absent gaze
|an absent smile
|his absent manner
|an absent stare
Temas
emotions
|psychology
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- She nodded with an absent smile, clearly thinking about something else.
- He stared out of the window with an absent expression.
- During the meeting, his answers were short and his eyes absent.
- The child listened with an absent look, lost in his own thoughts.
- I tried to talk to her, but she just gave an absent nod and walked away.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- He sat there with an absent look on his face.
- She gave me an absent smile and said nothing.
- The boy had an absent expression during the lesson.
- Her eyes were absent; she was thinking of home.
- He answered my question in an absent way, still reading his phone.
Verbo
formal
C1
action
4
to stay away deliberately
To choose not to go to a place or event where you could or should be; to stay away on purpose.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] absents [oneself] from [something]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use this verb in everyday speech, where it can sound strange or too formal. In normal conversation, it is more natural to say *"He didn't come to the meeting"*, *"He stayed away from the ceremony"*, or *"She skipped the class"* instead of *"He absented himself"* or *"She absented herself"*. Also note that it is almost always reflexive: *"absent oneself from [something]"*.
Sinónimos
stay away from (More common and less formal; emphasizes not going somewhere rather than the deliberate, sometimes official tone of *absent*.)
|
skip (Informal; often used for missing class, work, or an event, while *absent oneself* sounds formal or official.)
Antónimos
attend (Means to go to and be present at an event, the opposite of deliberately not going.)
Colocaciones
absent himself from
|absented herself from
|absent yourself from
|absented themselves from
|absent oneself from duty
Temas
work
|formal
|law
|core_vocabulary
|education
Ejemplos
- Several members chose to absent themselves from the vote.
- He deliberately absented himself from the ceremony.
- The minister absented herself from the meeting to avoid a conflict of interest.
- Employees who absent themselves from duty without permission may face disciplinary action.
- In protest, the opposition absented themselves from the final session.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The director absented himself from the discussion.
- She absented herself from the ceremony for personal reasons.
- They absented themselves from the meeting in protest.
- He absented himself from work without telling his boss.
- Some students absented themselves from the exam.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
absent
AFI
GB/ˈæbsənt/
US/ˈæbsənt/
Sílabas y acento
ab - sent (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (ab)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: absent
Verb
- Base: absent
- 3rd Person Singular: absents
- Present Participle: absenting
- Past: absented
Familia de palabras
Forms
absents
verb
absenting
verb
absented
verb
Core family
absence
noun A2
Related words
absently
adverb
absentee
noun B2
Advanced or less common
absenteeism
noun C1
Expresiones
absent from
1/ˈæbsənt fɹˈʌm/
fixed phrase
not present somewhere
Used to say that someone is not at a place, event, or activity where they are expected to be.
Ejemplos
- She was absent from school again today.
- Several key players were absent from the game.
- Anyone absent from the meeting must read the minutes later.
absent without leave
1/ˈæbsənt wɪðˈaʊt lˈiv/
fixed phrase
technical
away from duty without permission
Away from work, especially in the military, without official permission; often shortened to AWOL.
Ejemplos
- The soldier was charged with being absent without leave.
- Any employee who is absent without leave may face dismissal.
- He went absent without leave halfway through his contract.
absent yourself from
1/æbsˈɛnt jʊɹsˈɛlf fɹˈʌm/
fixed phrase
formal
remove yourself from somewhere
To stay away from a place or event on purpose, especially as a polite or formal way of saying you do not go.
Ejemplos
- If you disagree so strongly, perhaps you should absent yourself from the discussion.
- Several board members chose to absent themselves from the vote.
- He politely absented himself from the room while they talked in private.