absent oneself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absent oneself" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone is intentionally not present in a particular situation or location. Example: "She decided to absent herself from the meeting to avoid the conflict."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

There is something paradoxical, though, about describing one's dreams or theorizing about religious experience since to give an account one must absent oneself from the province for which one accounts, and Kierkegaard's notion of indirect communication and various postmodern critiques of theory address themselves to just such paradoxes.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr. Lou added that this inclination to think for oneself has long been absent from Chinese life: "Ninety years ago politicians told us we had to believe in Marxism and Leninism.

The New York Times

The reasons for this should be obvious: gay men's experience of fatherhood generally stops at having, or having had, a father, and being a father oneself can usually be considered an absent possibility.

The New York Times - Books

Von Bülow and Krusche analyze this system as a medium of "conversation with oneself," where the Zettelkasten stands in for lacking or absent interlocutors.19 However, in the context of Blumenberg's anthropological writings, another dimension of the Zettelkasten's use becomes apparent.

Johns Hopkins University

While it may be possible to get oneself to believe that the perceptions of the absent-minded car driver can remain phenomenally conscious (perhaps lying outside of the focus of attention, or being instantly forgotten), it is very hard to believe that either blindsight percepts or D.F.'s sensorimotor perceptual states might be phenomenally conscious ones.

SEP

Religion means understanding oneself.

The New York Times

"One must show oneself deserving," he said.

The New Yorker

The craft one learns oneself.

The New Yorker

The heaven was being oneself.

The New York Times

Is it possible to smack down oneself?

The New Yorker

Pacing oneself, thus, is virtually impossible.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absent oneself" when you want to emphasize a deliberate and often formal decision to not be present. Consider the context and whether a simpler alternative like "be absent" would be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "absent oneself" in casual conversation or informal writing. It can sound pretentious or overly formal in contexts where simpler alternatives are more suitable. For instance, saying "I will be absent" is often preferable to "I will absent myself".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absent oneself" functions as a reflexive verb phrase, where the subject is both the actor and the recipient of the action. This indicates a deliberate and intentional act of removing oneself from a particular place or situation. Ludwig shows that this phrase conveys a conscious decision to be absent.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Academia

33%

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "absent oneself" is a formal verb phrase indicating a deliberate decision to not be present. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, although it's less common than simpler alternatives like "be absent". Its formality makes it suitable for academic or news contexts, where a deliberate and intentional act is to be emphasized. While grammatically sound, remember that in most cases a less formal version of the same concept, such as "be absent", would be more adequate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be absent

A more direct and common way of saying someone is not present.

not attend

Simply states that someone will not be present.

take leave

Implies a formal permission or reason for being away.

excuse oneself

Suggests a polite departure, often temporary.

withdraw from

Indicates a more permanent or significant removal from a situation.

remove oneself

A more formal way to say someone is leaving a place or situation.

stay away

Implies a deliberate avoidance of a place or situation.

skip

An informal term for not attending something.

miss

To not be present at an event.

pass on

To decline an invitation or opportunity to attend.

FAQs

How can I use "absent oneself" in a sentence?

You can use "absent oneself" to indicate a deliberate decision not to be present. For example, "She chose to absent herself from the meeting to avoid further conflict."

What does "absent oneself" mean?

"Absent oneself" means to intentionally not be present in a particular place or situation, often to avoid something or make a statement.

Which is a more common phrase, "absent oneself" or "be absent"?

Be absent is a more common and straightforward way of expressing the same idea. "Absent oneself" is less frequent and sounds more formal.

When is it appropriate to use "absent oneself"?

It's appropriate in formal writing or when you want to emphasize the deliberate nature of the absence. In most everyday situations, simpler alternatives like "not attend" or "be away" are more suitable.