absent-minded

adjective

ab·sent-mind·ed ˌab-sənt-ˈmīn-dəd How to pronounce absent-minded (audio)

variants or less commonly absentminded

: lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions : preoccupied

was too absent-minded to notice what time it was

: tending to forget or fail to notice things : given to absence of mind (see absence sense 3)

an absent-minded person prone to forgetting appointments

: indicative of or resulting from preoccupation or absence of mind

gave an absent-minded reply

absentmindedly adverb

or less commonly absent-mindedly

absentmindedness noun

or less commonly absent-mindedness

Example Sentences

Her absentminded husband forgot their anniversary. She did the chores in an absentminded way.

Recent Examples on the Web But magnet faculty enjoyed a great deal of autonomy—Anstead, who developed a reputation among Core students for being gentle and brilliant, if a bit absentminded, gave teachers free rein over their classes.

Longreads, 16 Mar. 2012 But as happens to absentminded professors worldwide (at least according to my dear wife), my mind started to wander from the task at hand to something related to plants.

Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 6 Mar. 2020 In their own seemingly innocent, absentminded way, slow drivers pose just as much of a threat to society as fast ones.

Joe Queenan, WSJ, 12 Apr. 2018 Megyn Kelly’s dog took a brief sojourn in a total stranger’s lavish Montana villa after her absentminded caretakers unintentionally abandoned her there during their vacation in the Big Sky Country.

Amanda Arnold, The Cut, 26 Mar. 2018 Over on the side, two men played an absentminded game of pool, more interested in the discussion than the 6 in the side pocket.

The Root, 16 June 2017

absentminded

adjective

as in preoccupied

lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions the grieving woman was so absentminded that she left her key in the lock after opening the door

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

preoccupied
distracted
confused
bewildered
dazed
absent
abstracted
forgetful
oblivious
daydreaming
inattentive
absorbed
scatterbrained
engrossed
pensive
forgetting
unaware
befuddled
dreamy
unthinking
unmindful
unconscious
dreaming
clueless
bemused
unfocused
intent
faraway
heedless
unwitting
unheeding
rapt
unperceptive
unknowing
muddled
unwary
unfocussed
flighty
befogged
foggy
hazy
vacant
insensible
birdbrained

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

alert
conscious
watchful
engaged
attentive
wary
observant
aware
mindful
vigilant
heedful
sharp
alive
observing
clearheaded
open-eyed
wide-awake
heads-up

as in forgetful

inclined to forget what one has learned or to do what one should an absentminded aunt who some years sends me two birthday checks

Synonyms & Similar Words

forgetful
preoccupied
confused
bewildered
oblivious
careless
scatterbrained
dazed
befuddled
senile
neglectful
lost
unmindful
bemused
thoughtless
unfocused
abstracted
amnesiac
negligent
inattentive
absent
muddled
inconsiderate
amnesic
unfocussed
unaware
unthinking
befogged
unconscious
remiss
heedless
lax
unperceptive
unheeding
slack
unknowing
insensible

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

retentive
watchful
attentive
careful
cautious
vigilant
alert
conscientious
thoughtful
awake
keen
wary
circumspect
sharp
open-eyed
wide-awake
heedful

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of absentminded are absent, abstracted, distracted, and preoccupied. While all these words mean "inattentive to what claims or demands consideration," absentminded implies that the mind is fixed elsewhere and often refers to a habit of abstractedness.

so absentminded, he's been known to wear mismatched shoes

The words absent and absentminded are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, absent stresses inability to fix the mind on present concerns due more to mental wandering than to concentration on other matters.

an absent stare

While in some cases nearly identical to absentminded, abstracted implies absorption of the mind in something other than one's surroundings, and often suggests reflection on weighty matters.

walking about with an abstracted air

The meanings of distracted and absentminded largely overlap; however, distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety.

was too distracted by grief to continue working

While the synonyms preoccupied and absentminded are close in meaning, preoccupied often implies having one's attention so taken up by thoughts as to neglect others.

too preoccupied with her debts to enjoy the meal

单词	absentminded
释义	absent-minded adjective ab·sent-mind·ed ˌab-sənt-ˈmīn-dəd variants or less commonly absentminded 1 a : lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions : preoccupied was too absent-minded to notice what time it was b : tending to forget or fail to notice things : given to absence of mind (see absence sense 3) an absent-minded person prone to forgetting appointments 2 : indicative of or resulting from preoccupation or absence of mind gave an absent-minded reply absentmindedly adverb or less commonly absent-mindedly absentmindedness noun or less commonly absent-mindedness Synonyms absent abstracted distracted preoccupied See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Her absentminded husband forgot their anniversary. She did the chores in an absentminded way. Recent Examples on the Web But magnet faculty enjoyed a great deal of autonomy—Anstead, who developed a reputation among Core students for being gentle and brilliant, if a bit absentminded, gave teachers free rein over their classes. Longreads, 16 Mar. 2012 But as happens to absentminded professors worldwide (at least according to my dear wife), my mind started to wander from the task at hand to something related to plants. Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 6 Mar. 2020 In their own seemingly innocent, absentminded way, slow drivers pose just as much of a threat to society as fast ones. Joe Queenan, WSJ, 12 Apr. 2018 Megyn Kelly’s dog took a brief sojourn in a total stranger’s lavish Montana villa after her absentminded caretakers unintentionally abandoned her there during their vacation in the Big Sky Country. Amanda Arnold, The Cut, 26 Mar. 2018 Over on the side, two men played an absentminded game of pool, more interested in the discussion than the 6 in the side pocket. The Root, 16 June 2017 Word History First Known Use 1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Kids Definition absentminded adjective ab·sent·mind·ed ˌab-sənt-ˈmīn-dəd : tending to forget or not pay attention Two absentminded students forgot their homework today. absentminded adjective 1 as in preoccupied lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions the grieving woman was so absentminded that she left her key in the lock after opening the door Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance preoccupied distracted confused bewildered dazed absent abstracted forgetful oblivious daydreaming inattentive absorbed scatterbrained engrossed pensive forgetting unaware befuddled dreamy unthinking unmindful unconscious dreaming clueless bemused unfocused intent faraway heedless unwitting unheeding rapt unperceptive unknowing muddled unwary unfocussed flighty befogged foggy hazy vacant insensible birdbrained Antonyms & Near Antonyms alert conscious watchful engaged attentive wary observant aware mindful vigilant heedful sharp alive observing clearheaded open-eyed wide-awake heads-up See More 2 as in forgetful inclined to forget what one has learned or to do what one should an absentminded aunt who some years sends me two birthday checks Synonyms & Similar Words forgetful preoccupied confused bewildered oblivious careless scatterbrained dazed befuddled senile neglectful lost unmindful bemused thoughtless unfocused abstracted amnesiac negligent inattentive absent muddled inconsiderate amnesic unfocussed unaware unthinking befogged unconscious remiss heedless lax unperceptive unheeding slack unknowing insensible Antonyms & Near Antonyms retentive watchful attentive careful cautious vigilant alert conscientious thoughtful awake keen wary circumspect sharp open-eyed wide-awake heedful See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of absentminded are absent, abstracted, distracted, and preoccupied. While all these words mean "inattentive to what claims or demands consideration," absentminded implies that the mind is fixed elsewhere and often refers to a habit of abstractedness. so absentminded, he's been known to wear mismatched shoes The words absent and absentminded are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, absent stresses inability to fix the mind on present concerns due more to mental wandering than to concentration on other matters. an absent stare While in some cases nearly identical to absentminded, abstracted implies absorption of the mind in something other than one's surroundings, and often suggests reflection on weighty matters. walking about with an abstracted air The meanings of distracted and absentminded largely overlap; however, distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety. was too distracted by grief to continue working While the synonyms preoccupied and absentminded are close in meaning, preoccupied often implies having one's attention so taken up by thoughts as to neglect others. too preoccupied with her debts to enjoy the meal
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absent-minded

adjective

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser