abstracted

adjective

ab·​stract·​ed ab-ˈstrak-təd 

ˈab-ˌstrak-

1

: withdrawn in mind : inattentive to one's surroundings

said hello but seemed abstracted

2

: abstract sense 4

abstracted geometric shapes

abstractedly adverb

abstractedness noun

Synonyms

• absent
• absentminded
• distracted
• preoccupied

Choose the Right Synonym for abstracted

abstracted, preoccupied, absent, absent-minded, distracted mean inattentive to what claims or demands consideration.

abstracted implies absorption of the mind in something other than one's surroundings, and often suggests reflection on weighty matters.

walking about with an abstracted air

preoccupied often implies having one's attention so taken up by thoughts as to neglect others.

too preoccupied with her debts to enjoy the meal

absent stresses inability to fix the mind on present concerns due more to mental wandering than to concentration on other matters.

an absent stare

absent-minded implies that the mind is fixed elsewhere and often refers to a habit of abstractedness.

so absent-minded, he's been known to wear mismatched shoes

distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety.

was too distracted by grief to continue working

Examples of abstracted in a Sentence

She said hello but she seemed a bit abstracted.

the man on the train seemed somewhat abstracted, and he did indeed forget to get off at his stop

Recent Examples on the Web

The show’s overall environment was more akin to an abstracted living room than a standard runway setup. —Lauren Vaccaro, Architectural Digest, 28 Nov. 2024

Larry Aldrich, the museum’s founder, visited Diamond’s studio in 1972 and subsequently acquired Untitled (1972), one of her early abstracted landscapes, and put it in a group show—marking her first museum acquisition and exhibition. —Grace Edquist, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2024

The dialectic talk can feel a bit abstracted from politics, as can spotting Marx in every mention of equity. —Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

But another reason might be a latent hunger for rock that’s abstracted, collaborative, and sensation-first. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of abstract entry 3

First Known Use

1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

abstracted

adjective

ab·​stract·​ed ab-ˈstrak-təd 

ˈab-ˌstrak-

: preoccupied sense 1, absentminded

abstractedly adverb

abstractedness noun