already absent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "already absent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that is not present at a particular time, often implying that their absence was anticipated or known beforehand. Example: "The meeting started without him, as he was already absent due to a prior commitment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

(There was no worry about the heart, already absent by intention).

The New Yorker

For Ishiguro, the orphans of his title are bereft of parents and yet also defined by them; they can never get over their loss because their parents are always already absent.

The New York Times - Books

Macedonio builds a multi­dimensional labyrinth in which everything is thrown into disarray: time and space, the metaphysical status of characters (one resigns from the novel, others are rejected and so are already absent) and even the reader ("You yourself, Reader, are here a part of my work").

The New York Times - Books

The oscillations are attenuated with the increase of temperature and are already absent at temperatures above 60 K.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Alasdair Dickinson, Ed Kalman and Moray Low are among the other forwards already absent from the Scotland squad through injury.

BBC

As can be seen, at 2 h and later, the colloid is already absent from the solution and is found to decorate larger GNPs (Figure 9b,c,d).

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

After "White Christmas" became World War II's national anthem of American homesickness, when Bing Crosby's recording became as essential to G.I. battle gear as hand grenades and C rations, Berlin had the initial verse suppressed.It had already absented itself from "Holiday Inn," Crosby's snowbound movie of 1942, for obvious meteorological reasons, and from his recording of the same year.

The New York Times - Arts

He was hired, although he already had problems back then – he had been absent from training for a few months to treat his depression.

Vice

I was teaching two courses, and I'd already been absent twice.

The New York Times - Magazine

Attaching it to Clinton now is merely confirming what we already knew: absent something very shocking, she will be the Democratic candidate.

The New Yorker

At the last moment, those killing themselves are ironically most alive and yet already somehow absent as their future is born.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "already absent" to indicate that something or someone was not present when expected or when a particular situation arose. It implies anticipation or prior knowledge of the absence.

Common error

Avoid using "already absent" when you simply mean 'absent'. The 'already' emphasizes that the absence precedes a specific event or time. If the timing is irrelevant, 'absent' alone is sufficient.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "already absent" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a state of being not present prior to a certain time. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct. It signifies a condition that existed before a particular event or point in time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "already absent" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that emphasizes the pre-existing absence of something or someone. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it serves to provide context by stressing that the absence predates a particular event or time. When using this phrase, ensure you are conveying this temporal aspect; otherwise, 'absent' alone may suffice. Related phrases include "previously gone" and "already missing", offering similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously gone

Focuses on the state of being gone before a certain point, similar to "already absent".

already missing

Emphasizes the lack of presence, mirroring the sense of "already absent".

absent beforehand

Highlights that the absence occurred before the reference point.

previously not present

A more formal way of saying "already absent", indicating a prior lack of presence.

long gone

Suggests that the absence has been for a significant amount of time.

already departed

Uses a more formal term, 'departed', to denote absence.

formerly absent

Indicates a past state of absence.

already vanished

Implies a more sudden or mysterious disappearance.

previously removed

Suggests that something or someone was taken away before.

prior absence

Highlights the fact of something being absent before.

FAQs

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

Use "already absent" to emphasize that something or someone was not present at a particular point in time. For instance, "The key feature was "already absent" when the system was initiated".

What's a more formal alternative to "already absent"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "previously not present" or "formerly absent". These alternatives provide a similar meaning while maintaining a higher level of formality.

What's the difference between "already absent" and "absent"?

"Already absent" implies that the absence was known or anticipated, or occurred before a specific event. "Absent" simply means not present, without the added emphasis on timing. For example: "He was "absent" from the meeting" versus "He was "already absent" when the meeting started".

When is it incorrect to use "already absent"?

Avoid using "already absent" if you intend to simply state that something is missing without any additional temporal context. For example, it would be incorrect if you meant "The document is "missing", not "The document is "already absent"."