51Թ

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View synonyms for

absence

[ ab-suhns ]

noun

  1. state of being away or not being present:

    I acted as supervisor in his absence. Your absence was noted on the records.

    Antonyms:

  2. period of being away:

    an absence of several weeks.

  3. failure to attend or appear when expected.
  4. lack; deficiency:

    the absence of proof.

  5. inattentiveness; preoccupation; absent-mindedness:

    absence of mind.



absence

/ ˈæəԲ /

noun

  1. the state of being away
  2. the time during which a person or thing is away
  3. the fact of being without something; lack
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of absence1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin absentia; absent, -ia
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of absence1

C14: via Old French from Latin absentia, from ŧԲ a being away
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Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with absence , also see conspicuous by its absence .
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

On 3 March this year, he did not appear for the slated start date, and the prosecution asked to continue the trial in the defendant's absence.

From

Was the word “dark” just meant to describe what was under there — darkness, the absence of light beneath a space-gobbling hunk of immovable material?

From

Murray, who skated on the Boston Bruins’ imposing “700-pound Line,” a name inspired by the collective weight of the three players, said the absence of nicknames doesn’t necessarily represent progress.

From

Betts felt like his absence distracted from that team’s accomplishment and made the news cycle about him.

From

The Unite general secretary has been notable largely by her absence during this strike.

From

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Related 51Թs

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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