Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

absent-minded

/ˌæb.sn̩tˈmaɪn.dɪd/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.76 in modern English

Syllables: ab-sen-t--mind-ed
IPA: /ˌæb.sn̩tˈmaɪn.dɪd/

18

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

6

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Absent in mind; often preoccupied; forgetful or careless due to distraction; easily distracted.

Example Sentences

"It took the absent-minded man twenty minutes to find his glasses on top of his head."
"Let the most absent-minded of men be plunged in his deepest reveries — stand that man on his legs, set his feet a-going, and he will infallibly lead you to water, if water there be in all that region."
"For nowadays, the whale-fishery furnishes an asylum for many romantic, melancholy, and absent-minded young men[…]. Very often do the captains of such ships take those absent-minded young philosophers to task[…"
"His figure was bent in apologetic protest. "I ask a thousand pardons, sir," he said; "I am really so very absent-minded.""

Etymology

From absent mind + -ed, meaning “having an absent mind”.

Word Breakdown

Suffix: absent mind

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌæb.sn̩tˈmaɪn.dɪd/

Inflected Forms

more absent-minded (comparative) most absent-minded (superlative) absentminded (alternative)

Phrases

absent-mindedness absent-mindedly absent-minded professor

Frequently Paired Words

mindless unmindful

Questions

How do you pronounce absent-minded?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌæb.sn̩tˈmaɪn.dɪd/.
What does absent-minded mean?: Absent in mind; often preoccupied; forgetful or careless due to distraction; easily distracted.
Where does absent-minded come from?: From absent mind + -ed, meaning “having an absent mind”.

How to pronounce absent-minded

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “absent-minded”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌæb.sn̩tˈmaɪn.dɪd/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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