Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In an absent or inattentive manner; with absence of mind.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In an absent or abstracted manner.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in an absentminded or preoccupied manner

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

absent +‎ -ly

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word absently.

Examples

  • Maggie O’Rourke, she supplied her name absently, still trying to comprehend his explanation.

    This Calder Sky Janet Dailey 1981

  • Maggie O’Rourke, she supplied her name absently, still trying to comprehend his explanation.

    This Calder Sky Janet Dailey 1981

  • Maggie O’Rourke, she supplied her name absently, still trying to comprehend his explanation.

    This Calder Sky Janet Dailey 1981

  • Maggie O’Rourke, she supplied her name absently, still trying to comprehend his explanation.

    This Calder Sky Janet Dailey 1981

  • The door closed, and she touched the pile of coins absently.

    Aching for Always Gwyn Cready 2010

  • He checked the edge of his sword absently, then wrapped his cloak around his other arm in lieu of a shield.

    Father Swarat Matt Dennison 2010

  • Hanna called absently into the kitchen, then began reading the introductory paragraph on page 2.

    Mending Places Denise Hunter 2004

  • He checked the edge of his sword absently, then wrapped his cloak around his other arm in lieu of a shield.

    The Dragons of Chaos Weis, Margaret 1997

  • If silver entered into the transaction, he usually rang the last coin absently on the glass surface of the counter.

    Otherwise Phyllis Meredith Nicholson 1906

  • He dropped a Greek word absently, putting away his papers the while, and thinking of the subject with which he had just been busy.

    Lady Connie Humphry Ward 1885

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.