feeling of absence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feeling of absence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an emotional state where one feels a lack or void of something or someone significant. Example: "After her departure, I was overwhelmed by a profound feeling of absence that lingered for weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

There is a feeling of absence where so recently there was one of occupation.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The strange feeling of absence that prevailed in the frozen silence here had to do with the secrecy and evil of the place's conception, and with its permanent abandonment, in shame, after its author was gone.

The New Yorker

You would expect a feeling of absence there, seeing a man without his partner, but there cannot be absence where there is not much presence: it is broad, buffoonish mock sexiness and mock dissipation, the kind of thing Kesha does with more finesse.

The New York Times - Arts

D'Angelo Lovell Williams makes self-portraits that, like Tommy Kha, respond to his feeling of absence in popular culture and visual history.

Vice

It's about the embodiment of Internet on the desktops of PCs, and the feeling of absence provided by sitting in front of a PC.

Vice

The loss of personal independence can lead to a feeling of absence of will and increasingly shifts the focus on basic care needs.

BMC Geriatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"I want my work to evoke feelings of absence and longing in a way that helps the audience reconnect with their own memories and emotions," she said by telephone.

The New York Times - Arts

Armantrout also reads her own poem, "Before," in which she imagines how her everyday surroundings might look if her husband were to die: If I can describe the feeling of your absence precisely, which means using the names of things Both poems imagine the emotional rearrangements that the death of a loved one might precipitate.

The New Yorker

No one event or fumble seemed to add up to a reason for the firing, but rather there was the feeling of the absence of a strategy, a game plan, a vision if you must, of how to move beyond the lock on the world's search market.

TechCrunch

It is a common practice in Pakistan that when there are too many children to feed some of them are sent to Madrasas (religious boarding schools) [ 25], similarly children exhibiting sexual confusions eventually end up with the hijra community because the feeling of their absence is many a times comforted by the fact that now "we have one less mouth to feed".

BMC International Health and Human Rights

For me, depression and darkness is about a lack of feeling, an absence of emotional connection.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts such as emotional states or the impact of missing elements, "feeling of absence" can effectively convey the void or lack experienced. Ensure the context provides sufficient detail for the reader to understand the specific nature of the absence.

Common error

While "feeling of absence" is appropriate in many situations, avoid overuse in casual conversation or informal writing where simpler alternatives like "missing something" or "feeling empty" might sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feeling of absence" functions as a noun phrase that describes an emotional or sensory experience of something lacking or missing. Ludwig shows examples in various contexts, ranging from personal emotions to broader cultural or environmental observations. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "feeling of absence" is a grammatically sound and versatile way to describe the emotional or sensory experience of something lacking. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correctly used across various contexts, primarily in news, scientific, and formal writing. While there are many alternatives, such as "sense of loss" or "feeling of emptiness", the specific choice depends on the nuance you wish to convey. To use it effectively, ensure the context clarifies the nature of the absence, and avoid overuse in very informal settings. The goal is to clearly and powerfully communicate the emotional impact of what is missing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sense of loss

Broadly describes the feeling of having lost something important.

feeling of emptiness

Highlights the emotional emptiness caused by the absence.

void of presence

Directly states the lack of someone or something being there.

sense of incompleteness

Highlights the feeling that something is missing, causing a lack of wholeness.

sense of void

Focuses on the emptiness and lack of fulfillment associated with the absence.

experience of lack

Focuses on the direct experience of missing something necessary or desired.

sense of nonexistence

Emphasizes the lack of being or presence, focusing on a philosophical perspective.

impression of vacancy

Conveys a sense of something being unoccupied or missing from a space.

sense of bereavement

Specifically relates to the feeling of loss due to death or separation.

feeling of detachment

Emphasizes the emotional distance and disconnection experienced.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "feeling of absence" in a sentence?

Use "feeling of absence" to describe the emotional or sensory experience of something or someone being missing. For example, "The silence in the house created a profound feeling of absence after the children left".

What are some alternatives to "feeling of absence"?

You can use alternatives like "sense of loss", "feeling of emptiness", or "sense of void" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "feeling of absence" or "sense of absence"?

Both "feeling of absence" and "sense of absence" are correct. "Feeling" emphasizes the emotional aspect, while "sense" focuses on a more general perception. The choice depends on the context and the specific emphasis you want to make.

What is the difference between "feeling of absence" and "feeling of missing"?

"Feeling of absence" typically describes a general void or lack, while "feeling of missing" usually refers to a specific longing for someone or something. For example, you might have a "feeling of absence" after a major change in your life, but a "feeling of missing" a loved one who is far away.