Absent vs. Present: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Absent" means not present or lacking; "Present" means being in a place or attending.
Key Differences
Absent refers to the state of not being present in a specific location or context. It implies a lack or absence where presence is expected or usual. In contrast, Present denotes the state of being in a certain place or situation, indicating attendance or participation.
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Dec 04, 2023
In many settings, being absent is equated with unavailability or inaccessibility, suggesting that someone or something expected or required is not there. On the other hand, being present underscores availability and accessibility, indicating that a person or an object is where it is supposed to be.
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Dec 04, 2023
Absent can also suggest a psychological or emotional disengagement, even if physically present. This contrasts with the word Present, which can imply active engagement or involvement in the current situation or environment.
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From a more metaphorical standpoint, absent can describe something missing from a situation, such as an absent idea or quality, thereby leaving a gap or void. Present, in a similar metaphorical use, signifies the inclusion or existence of elements or qualities in a scenario.
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Dec 04, 2023
In summary, absent and present are antithetical concepts, with the former highlighting the state of non-existence or non-attendance in a given context, while the latter emphasizes the state of existence, attendance, or participation.
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Dec 04, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Emotional Engagement
Disconnected or uninvolved emotionally
Emotionally engaged or involved
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Availability
Unavailable for interaction or duties
Available for interaction or duties
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Contribution
Not contributing to a situation
Actively contributing to a situation
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Absent and Present Definitions
Absent
Lacking or missing where expected.
The absent ingredient made the dish taste bland.
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Present
Existing or occurring in a place or situation.
She was present at the meeting yesterday.
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Absent
Emotionally or mentally detached.
He was physically present but emotionally absent.
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Absent
Not attentive or mindful.
Her absent gaze indicated she was lost in thought.
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Present
A moment or period in time perceptible as intermediate between past and future; now.
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Present
Presents(Law) The document or instrument in question
Be it known by these presents.
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Present
Pre·sent (prĭ-zĕnt) The position of a rifle or other weapon when presented.
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Absent
Without
"Absent a legislative fix, this is an invitation for years of litigation" (Brian E. O'Neill).
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Present
Existing or happening now; current
The present leader.
Present trends.
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Absent
(not comparable) Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present; missing.
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Present
Being at hand or in attendance
Thirty guests were present at the ceremony.
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Absent
(not comparable) Not existing; lacking.
The part was rudimental or absent.
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Present
Existing in something specified
Oxygen is present in the bloodstream.
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Absent
(comparable) Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied.
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Present
Now being considered; actually here or involved
The present subject.
Present company excepted.
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Absent
(with definite article) Something absent, especially absent people collectively; those who were or are not there.
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Present
(Grammar) Designating a verb tense or form that expresses current time.
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Absent
In the absence of; without; except.
Absent taxes modern governments cannot function.
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Absent
(reflexive) To keep (oneself) away.
Most of the men are retired, jobless, or have otherwise temporarily absented themselves from the workplace.
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Present
To offer for observation, examination, or consideration; show or display
The detective presented his badge.
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Present
To afford or furnish
The situation presented us with a chance to improve our knowledge.
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Present
To turn or position in the direction of another
Presented his face to the camera.
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Absent
Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied; as, an absent air.
What is commonly called an absent man is commonly either a very weak or a very affected man.
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Present
(Immunology) To display (an antigen) on the cell surface. Used especially of cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells, where the displayed antigen activates T cells as part of an immune response.
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Absent
To take or withdraw (one's self) to such a distance as to prevent intercourse; - used with the reflexive pronoun.
If after due summons any member absents himself, he is to be fined.
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Present
To represent or depict in a certain manner
The movie presents bankers as greedy and coldhearted.
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Present
To introduce (a young woman) to society with conventional ceremony.
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Present
To hold, carry, or point (a weapon) in a particular manner as a salutation or sign of honor, usually along the center axis of the body.
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Absent
Lost in thought; showing preoccupation;
An absent stare
An absentminded professer
The scatty glancing quality of a hyperactive but unfocused intelligence
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Absent
Not present in a given place or situation.
John was absent from school due to illness.
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Present
To be evident or manifest. Used of a disease or condition
How Lyme disease presents in its later stages.
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Present
To exhibit symptoms or signs during a medical examination
The patient presented with headache and heel pain.
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Present
Relating to now, for the time being; current.
The barbaric practice continues to the present day.
The present manager has been here longer than the last one.
Up to the present day.
The present manager has been here longer than the last one.
Up to the present day.
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Present
Located in the immediate vicinity.
Is there a doctor present?
Several people were present when the event took place.
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Present
(obsolete) Having an immediate effect (of a medicine, poison etc.); fast-acting.
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Present
Relating to something a person is referring to in the very context, with a deictic use similar to the demonstrative adjective this.
In the present study,
The present article,
The present results.
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Present
Attentive; alert; focused.
Sorry, I was distracted just now, I'll try to be more present from now on.
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Present
A gift, especially one given for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, or any other special occasions.
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Present
(military) The position of a soldier in presenting arms.
To stand at present
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Present
To bring (someone) into the presence of (a person); to introduce formally.
To present an envoy to the king
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Present
(transitive) To nominate (a member of the clergy) for an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.
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Present
(transitive) To offer (a problem, complaint) to a court or other authority for consideration.
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Present
To charge (a person) with a crime or accusation; to bring before court.
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Present
(reflexive) To come forward, appear in a particular place or before a particular person, especially formally.
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Present
(transitive) To put (something) forward in order for it to be seen; to show, exhibit.
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Present
(transitive) To make clear to one's mind or intelligence; to put forward for consideration.
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Present
(transitive) To put on, stage (a play etc.).
The theater is proud to present the Fearless Fliers.
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Present
To point (a firearm) at something, to hold (a weapon) in a position ready to fire.
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Present
(reflexive) To offer oneself for mental consideration; to occur to the mind.
Well, one idea does present itself.
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Present
To come to the attention of medical staff, especially with a specific symptom.
The patient presented with insomnia.
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Present
To appear (in a specific way) for delivery (of a fetus); to appear first at the mouth of the uterus during childbirth.
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Present
To appear or represent oneself (as having a certain gender).
At that time, Elbe was presenting as a man.
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Present
(transitive) To act as presenter on (a radio, television programme etc.).
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Present
(transitive) To give a gift or presentation to (someone).
She was presented with an honorary degree for her services to entertainment.
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Present
(transitive) To give (a gift or presentation) to someone; to bestow.
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Present
(transitive) To deliver (something abstract) as though as a gift; to offer.
I presented my compliments to Lady Featherstoneshaw.
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Present
To display one's female genitalia in a way that signals to others that one is ready for copulation. Also referred to as lordosis behaviour.
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Present
(fandom slang) In omegaverse fiction, to have one's secondary sex (alpha, omega, or beta) become apparent, typically at puberty.
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Present
Being at hand, within reach or call, within certain contemplated limits; - opposed to absent.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
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Present
Now existing, or in process; begun but not ended; now in view, or under consideration; being at this time; not past or future; as, the present session of Congress; the present state of affairs; the present instance.
I'll bring thee to the present business
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Present
Not delayed; immediate; instant; coincident.
An ambassador . . . desires a present audience.
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Present
Favorably attentive; propitious.
To find a god so present to my prayer.
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Present
Present time; the time being; time in progress now, or at the moment contemplated; as, at this present.
Past and present, wound in one.
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Present
Present letters or instrument, as a deed of conveyance, a lease, letter of attorney, or other writing; as in the phrase, " Know all men by these presents," that is, by the writing itself, " per has literas praesentes; " - in this sense, rarely used in the singular.
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Present
A present tense, or the form of the verb denoting the present tense.
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Present
Anything presented or given; a gift; a donative; as, a Christmas present.
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Present
The position of a soldier in presenting arms; as, to stand at present.
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Oct 19, 2023
Present
To bring or introduce into the presence of some one, especially of a superior; to introduce formally; to offer for acquaintance; as, to present an envoy to the king; (with the reciprocal pronoun) to come into the presence of a superior.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the lord.
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Present
To exhibit or offer to view or notice; to lay before one's perception or cognizance; to set forth; to present a fine appearance.
Lectorides's memory is ever . . . presenting him with the thoughts of other persons.
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Oct 19, 2023
Present
To pass over, esp. in a ceremonious manner; to give in charge or possession; to deliver; to make over.
So ladies in romance assist their knight,Present the spear, and arm him for the fight.
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Present
To make a gift of; to bestow; to give, generally in a formal or ceremonious manner; to grant; to confer.
My last, least offering, I present thee now.
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Present
Hence: To endow; to bestow a gift upon; to favor, as with a donation; also, to court by gifts.
Octavia presented the poet for him admirable elegy on her son Marcellus.
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Oct 19, 2023
Present
To nominate to an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.
The patron of a church may present his clerk to a parsonage or vicarage; that is, may offer him to the bishop of the diocese to be instituted.
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Oct 19, 2023
Present
To appear at the mouth of the uterus so as to be perceptible to the finger in vaginal examination; - said of a part of an infant during labor.
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Present
The period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech;
That is enough for the present
He lives in the present with no thought of tomorrow
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Present
A verb tense that expresses actions or states at the time of speaking
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Present
Show or demonstrate something to an interested audience;
She shows her dogs frequently
We will demo the new software in Washington
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Present
Bring forward and present to the mind;
We presented the arguments to him
We cannot represent this knowledge to our formal reason
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Present
Perform (a play), especially on a stage;
We are going to stage `Othello'
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Present
Give, especially as a reward;
Bestow honors and prizes at graduation
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Present
Give as a present; make a gift of;
What will you give her for her birthday?
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Present
Deliver (a speech, oration, or idea);
The commencement speaker presented a forceful speech that impressed the students
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Present
Cause to come to know personally;
Permit me to acquaint you with my son
Introduce the new neighbors to the community
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Present
Represent in a painting, drawing, sculpture, or verbally;
The father is portrayed as a good-looking man in this painting
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Present
Present somebody with something, usually to accuse or criticize;
We confronted him with the evidence
He was faced with all the evidence and could no longer deny his actions
An enormous dilemma faces us
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Present
Recognize with a gesture prescribed by a miltary regulation; assume a prescribed position;
When the officers show up, the soldiers have to salute
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Present
Temporal sense; intermediate between past and future; now existing or happening or in consideration;
The present leader
Articles for present use
The present topic
The present system
Present observations
Time past
His youth is past
This past Thursday
The past year
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Present
Spatial sense; being or existing in a specified place;
The murderer is present in this room
Present at the wedding
Present at the creation
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Present
Currently considered or focused on.
The present topic is climate change.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does it mean to be absent from an event?
It means not attending or being at the event.
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Dec 04, 2023
How can one be marked present in a meeting?
By being physically in the meeting or actively participating if it's virtual.
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Can someone be present but still be emotionally absent?
Yes, they can be physically there but mentally or emotionally disengaged.
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Is it possible to be absent in a photograph?
Yes, if one is not captured or included in the photograph.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can a gift be referred to as a present?
Yes, a gift is often called a present.
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Dec 04, 2023
What does it mean to be absent from duty?
It means not being at one's work or post when expected to be.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is it possible to be absent without notice?
Yes, it's when someone is unexpectedly not present.
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Dec 04, 2023
What does it mean to present an idea?
It means to introduce or propose an idea for consideration.
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Dec 04, 2023
Does being present require active participation?
Being present implies being there, but active participation can vary.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can one be legally absent?
Yes, in legal terms, it means not being in attendance where required.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can technology detect if a person is absent or present?
Yes, through attendance systems and presence sensors.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can someone be marked present by mistake?
Yes, errors can occur in attendance recording.
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Dec 04, 2023
Does absent always mean physically not there?
Not always, it can also mean mentally or emotionally disengaged.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is it possible to feel present in a moment?
Yes, it refers to being mentally and emotionally engaged in the current moment.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can a person be both absent and present in different ways?
Yes, physically present but mentally absent, for example.
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Dec 04, 2023
What does 'present and accounted for' mean?
It means being present and acknowledged as such.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is being present important for building relationships?
Yes, presence can foster stronger connections and understanding.
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Dec 04, 2023
What is the importance of being present in a classroom?
It allows for active learning and participation in educational activities.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can absence affect performance in a job?
Yes, frequent absences can negatively impact job performance.
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Dec 04, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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