Absence — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈab-sən(t)s/ ab·sence

Meaning & Definition of Absence

Absence (noun)

  1. a state or condition in which something expected, wanted, or looked for is not present or does not exist, a state or condition in which something is absent
  2. a failure to be present at a usual or expected place, the state of being absent
  3. the period of time that one is absent

Absence (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful

    "the absence of volunteers to be troop leaders is putting the scouting program in real jeopardy"

    similar: lack, need, needfulness, want
    related: deficiency, deficit, inadequacy, insufficiency, dearth, meagerness, paucity, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, skimpiness, defect, minus, deprivation, famishment, privation, demand, essential, necessity, requirement, requisite
    near: adequacy, enough, sufficiency, fund, pool, stock, supply, excess, fill, overabundance, oversupply, plenty, surfeit, surplus, hoard, stockpile

  2. the fact or state of being absent

    "in the absence of ferry service to the island, the ecotourists had to charter a plane"

    similar: dearth, lack, want
    related: deficiency, deficit, failure, famine, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, meagerness, paucity, poverty, scantiness, scantness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, skimpiness, undersupply, deprivation, loss, necessity, need, needfulness, omission, privation, blankness, emptiness, vacuity, vacuum, void
    opposite: presence
    near: abundance, amplitude, bounty, plenitude, plenteousness, plentifulness, plentitude, plenty, wealth, adequacy, sufficiency, excess, overabundance, oversupply, superabundance, surfeit, surplus, deluge, flood, bushel, deal, gobs, heap, loads, lot, mass, mountain, much, oodles, peck, pile, pot, quantity, raft, reams, scads, stack, volume, wad, fund, pool, stock, supply, cache, hoard, stash, stockpile

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Absence

The most common words with a similar meaning to Absence:

lack, need, needfulness, want, dearth

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Absence

Words with the opposite meaning of Absence:

presence

Related Words for Absence

deficiency, deficit, inadequacy, insufficiency, meagerness, paucity, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, skimpiness, defect, minus, deprivation, famishment, privation, demand, essential, necessity, requirement, requisite, failure, famine, inadequateness, scantness, undersupply, loss, omission, blankness

Near Antonyms of Absence

adequacy, enough, sufficiency, fund, pool, stock, supply, excess, fill, overabundance, oversupply, plenty, surfeit, surplus, hoard, stockpile, abundance, amplitude, bounty, plenitude, plenteousness, plentifulness, plentitude, wealth, superabundance, deluge, flood, bushel, deal, gobs

Origin & Etymology of Absence

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin absentia, noun derivative of absent-, absens absent:1

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Absence

Words & Phrases Containing Absence

leave of absence, in someone's absence, with the (continued) absence of

Frequently Asked Questions about Absence

What does "Absence" mean?

"Absence" means a state or condition in which something expected, wanted, or looked for is not present or does not exist, a state or condition in which something is absent. As a noun, it is defined as: a state or condition in which something expected, wanted, or looked for is not present or does not exist, a state or condition in which something is absent. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Absence"?

Other words for "Absence" include lack, need, needfulness, want and dearth. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Absence" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Absence"?

There are 39 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Absence". Common alternatives include lack, need, needfulness, want and dearth.

What is the opposite of "Absence"?

Antonyms of "Absence" include presence. Near antonyms include adequacy, enough, sufficiency and fund.

How do you use "Absence" in a sentence?

Examples of "Absence" in a sentence: "the absence of volunteers to be troop leaders is putting the scouting program in real jeopardy"; "in the absence of ferry service to the island, the ecotourists had to charter a plane".

Is "Absence" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Absence" is a noun.

Is "Absence" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Absence" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Absence"?

"Absence" is pronounced /ˈab-sən(t)s/ and divided into syllables as ab·sence.