ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Absence

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈæb.s(ə)n̩s/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Absence is a noun meaning A state of being away or withdrawn from a place or from companionship.

Meaning

A state of being away or withdrawn from a place or from companionship.

More Meanings

  1. The period of someone being away.
  2. Failure to be present where one is expected, wanted, or needed; nonattendance; deficiency.
  3. Lack; deficiency; non-existence.
  4. Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind).
  5. (medicine) Temporary loss or disruption of consciousness, with sudden onset and recovery, and common in epilepsy.
  6. (fencing) Lack of contact between blades.

Example Sentences

He had an absence of enthusiasm.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
During Jane's absence, Mark will be taking charge.
Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence.

Word Forms

Antonyms for absence

Common opposites include presence, existence, possession, sufficiency.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include absent, absentee, absenteeism, missing, omission, default.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.