absencenoun
uk/ˈæb.səns/us/ˈæb.səns/absence noun (NOT BEING PRESENT)
B2 [ U or C ] the fact of not being where you are usually expected to be:
A new manager was appointed during/in her absence.
She has had repeated absences from work this year.
More examples
- The smell of cigarette smoke confirmed what he had suspected: there had been a party in his absence.
- I'm deputizing for the director during his absence.
- Unbeknown to me, he'd gone and rented out the apartment in my absence.
- Can you account for your absence last Friday?
- A new manager was appointed during/in her absence.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Absent
- absent
- absentee
- AWOL
- be conspicuous by your absence idiom
- conspicuous
- go AWOL idiom
- in absentia
- lacuna
- miss
- missing
- missing person
- no-show
- nowhere
- nowhere to be found idiom
- out
absence noun (NOT EXISTING)
B2 [ U ] the fact of not existing:
He drew attention to the absence of concrete evidence against the defendant.
In the absence of (= because there were not) more suitable candidates, we decided to offer the job to Mr Conway.
More examples
- In the absence of anything better the settee would serve as a bed for a couple of nights.
- In our search for evidence, we were stymied by the absence of any recent documents.
- They complained about the absence of vegetarian food on the menu.
- In the absence of a strong government, the country soon fell into chaos.
- In the absence of a television, the children were forced to find other things to keep them amused.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Non-existence and not being
- absent
- aren't
- defunct
- extinct
- non-existent
- nothingness
- presence
- such
- there's no such thing/person (as) idiom
- unfulfilled
- vanished
- void
Idiom(s)
absence makes the heart grow fonder