he is not around

USAGE SUMMARY

"he is not around" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means that the person being referred to is not present or available. You can use this phrase in situations where you are talking about someone not being present physically or emotionally. For example: - "I wanted to ask John for his opinion, but he is not around." - "I haven't seen Sarah in a while, she seems to not be around lately." - "I'm sorry, the manager you're looking for is currently not around. Can I take a message?" - "My brother is usually around to help me with these types of tasks, but he's away on a business trip." - "I was hoping to talk to my boss about a promotion, but he's not around today." In all of these examples, the phrase "not around" is used to convey the idea that the person is not physically present or available. It is a casual and commonly used phrase in spoken and written English.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Even when he is not around, his songs sustain him.

The New York Times - Arts

His wife left him, but his niece watches Emily when he is not around and helps with homework.

The New York Times

Bob Woodward's new book, "Plan of Attack," which is not uniformly positive for the Bush administration, nonetheless portrays Mr. Bush as decisive and engaged, and quotes Mr. Cheney as referring to the president when he is not around as "the Man".

The New York Times

So when he is not around, you say to yourself, "OK, what would he say in a situation like this?" Fortunately we work with great directors on Hand of God.

Huffington Post

If he is not around, others make the decision on behalf of him.

Global Health Action

Towards the end they began comparing how many days' worth of supplies they had left, saying "What will we do if he [the doctor who brings the pills] doesn't come?" and "We will die because we can't have supplies if he is not around".

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Watanabe told the magazine: "Actually, he isn't around anymore.

The New York Times - Sports

"We're not really sure what will happen on those floors, since he isn't around to use them".

The New York Times

McQueen is not only cool, but he isn't around to tarnish his own image through overexposure or bad behavior.

Forbes

But because he's not around, it's very difficult".

The Guardian

When he's not around, you don't notice.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he is not around" when you want to casually indicate someone's absence, whether physical or figurative. It is suitable for both spoken and written English.

Common error

Avoid using "he is not around" when you mean someone is merely disagreeing or uninvolved in a discussion. This phrase typically implies a physical absence, not a difference of opinion or lack of participation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he is not around" functions as a statement indicating someone's absence. It communicates that the person in question is not present, accessible, or available at the time of speaking. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he is not around" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate someone's absence, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is typically used in neutral to informal contexts, conveying that the person is not present or available. While alternatives like "he is absent" or "he's not here" exist, the original phrase remains a widely understood and accepted expression. Ludwig's examples showcase its usage across various media, science, and wiki sources, further solidifying its place in everyday English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he isn't present

More formal; emphasizes the lack of physical presence.

he's not here

Simple and direct; indicates immediate absence from a location.

he is absent

Formal; implies a planned or expected presence that is not fulfilled.

he is unavailable

Emphasizes the inability to be reached or interacted with.

he's out

Informal; implies a temporary absence from a place.

he is away

Suggests a temporary absence, often for travel or other engagements.

he has gone

Indicates departure; may imply a longer absence.

he has left

Emphasizes the act of leaving a place.

he cannot be found

Indicates difficulty in locating the person.

he is missing

Implies uncertainty about the person's whereabouts; can suggest concern.

FAQs

What does "he is not around" mean?

The phrase "he is not around" means that the person being referred to is not present or available, either physically or figuratively.

What can I say instead of "he is not around"?

You can use alternatives like "he is absent", "he is unavailable", or "he's not here" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "he isn't around" instead of "he is not around"?

Yes, "he isn't around" is a contraction of "he is not around" and is perfectly acceptable in informal contexts. Both phrases have the same meaning.

When is it appropriate to use "he is not around"?

Use "he is not around" when you want to indicate someone's absence in a casual and conversational manner. It's suitable for situations where the absence is temporary or not particularly significant.