absent-minded

or ab·sent·mind·ed

[ ab-suhnt-mahyn-did ]

adjective

1. 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.

   Synonyms: distracted, forgetful, dreamy, musing, withdrawn

   Antonyms: observant, heedful, alert, attentive

absent-minded

adjective

1. preoccupied; forgetful; inattentive

Derived Forms

• ˌabsent-ˈmindedly, adverb
• ˌabsent-ˈmindedness, noun

Other Words From

• absent-minded·ly adverb
• absent-minded·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of absent-minded¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Synonym Study

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.