absent-minded
absent-minded — adjective
1. describes a person who regularly misplaces items, misses scheduled events, or fa
describes a person who regularly misplaces items, misses scheduled events, or fails to notice what is going on around them because their thoughts are absorbed by something else
The more tired Bao becomes, the more absent-minded he gets about locking doors.
the + comparative, the + comparative for cause and effect
Anjali left her umbrella on the bus in an absent-minded rush this morning.
in an absent-minded + noun for describing an action
Asher has an absent-minded habit of searching for his glasses while already wearing them.
Tamar's absent-minded cooking style means she often forgets to add salt to the soup.
Nicholas put his car keys in the refrigerator during one of his absent-minded moments.
- forgetful
focuses on memory lapses rather than general inattention; less about being lost in thought
- distracted
suggests a temporary state caused by something specific (noise, worry), not a personality trait
- preoccupied
emphasises that the mind is fully taken up by a particular concern, not a general habit
用法筆記
Unlike 'forgetful', which focuses only on memory lapses, absent-minded describes a broader pattern of inattention caused by mental absorption — the person may also fail to notice their surroundings or act distractedly.