Top Highlights

• the fact of not being where you are usually expected to be: during someone's absence A new manager was appointed during her absence. in someone's absence I'll be gone for two weeks, with Chris handling the deliveries in my absence. She has had repeated absences from work this year.
• the fact of not existing: in the absence of In the absence of (= because there were not) more suitable candidates, we decided to offer the job to Mr Conway. He drew attention to the absence of concrete evidence against the defendant.
• the state of not being somewhere, or a period in which you are not somewhere: [ C ] She has had repeated absences from school this year.
• An absence can also be a lack of existence: [ U ] He drew attention to the absence of any solid evidence against the defendant.
• the fact that something is not where it is needed or expected: The business was suffering from an absence of an overall plan for moving forward. in the absence of sth In the absence of any alternative, we'll continue in the same way as before.

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