absent-mindedness
səntˈmaɪn adjective
so lost in thought that one does not realize what one is doing, what is happening, etc.; preoccupied to the extent of being unaware of one's immediate surroundings.
Also, ab·sent·mind·ed.
Origin:
1850–55
1850–55
Related forms
ab·sent-mind·ed·ly, adverb
ab·sent-mind·ed·ness, noun
Synonyms
withdrawn, musing, daydreaming, dreamy, forgetful, distracted. Absent-minded, abstracted, oblivious all mean inattentive to immediate surroundings. Absent-minded suggests an unintentional wandering of the mind from the present: an absent-minded committee member. Abstracted implies that the mind has been drawn away from the immediate present by reflection upon some engrossing subject: an abstracted air. Oblivious implies absorption in some thought that causes one to be completely forgetful of or unaware of one's surroundings: oblivious of danger.
withdrawn, musing, daydreaming, dreamy, forgetful, distracted. Absent-minded, abstracted, oblivious all mean inattentive to immediate surroundings. Absent-minded suggests an unintentional wandering of the mind from the present: an absent-minded committee member. Abstracted implies that the mind has been drawn away from the immediate present by reflection upon some engrossing subject: an abstracted air. Oblivious implies absorption in some thought that causes one to be completely forgetful of or unaware of one's surroundings: oblivious of danger.
Antonyms
attentive, alert, heedful, observant.
attentive, alert, heedful, observant.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To absent-mindedness
00:10
Absent-mindedness
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
| absent-minded | |
| —adj | |
| preoccupied; forgetful; inattentive | |
| absent-'mindedly | |
| —adv | |
| absent-'mindedness | |
| —n | |
| absent-minded | |
| —adj | |
| preoccupied; forgetful; inattentive | |
| absent-'mindedly | |
| —adv | |
| absent-'mindedness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
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