— absent-mindedly , adv. — absent-mindedness , n.
/ab"seuhnt muyn"did/ , adj.
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, absentminded .
[ 1850-55 ]
Syn . withdrawn, musing, daydreaming, dreamy, forgetful, distracted.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.
Ant . attentive, alert, heedful, observant.