Most of the executives attended the meeting, but the company president was 'conspicuously absent'. [='conspicuous by his absence'; it was very noticeable that the company president was not there]
The soldier was 'absent without leave'. [='AWOL'; absent without having permission to be absent]
He made an 'absent' reply to her question as he continued to watch the TV.
(..) in King Richard's Crusade... ...with my beloved son Robin. I fear you have returned home to desperate times... ...when dark forces plot against our absent king. I am anxious for word of my son. Were you present at his capture near Jerusalem? Do you know which potentate holds him? (..)1991 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves