absence
单词辨析：
指供小于求，即达不到需要或规定的数量。
There is no shortage of funds.
资金并不缺乏。
The bad harvest led to severe food shortages.
歉收造成食物严重短缺。
The war was lost because of a shortage of munitions.
战争因军火不足而失败。
指某物根本不存在或完全短缺，也指某人未在现场。
in the absence of evidence
缺乏证据
She noticed the absence of illustrations in the dictionary.
她发现那本词典里没有插图。
Please take care of my mother during my absence.
我不在时，拜托你照看我的母亲。
普通用词，指完全没有或不够充足，通常用于抽象事物。
Hard work can often make up for a lack of ability.
努力工作常可弥补能力的不足。
His lack of money kept him from going to the concert.
他因缺钱不能去听音乐会。
Lack of time prevented me from writing to my parents.
由于没有时间，我没能给父母写信。
指完全没有或短缺某物，强调所缺之物是必需的东西，使用范围比lack 要窄一些；也指因没有食物、钱等造成的贫困。
My son's always in want of money.
我儿子总是缺钱。
The kids are unhappy for want of love.
这些孩子因为缺乏爱而不幸福。
Many families are suffering from want.
许多家庭正遭受着贫困。
相关例句：
Original mail returned in the absence of the addressee.
收信人不在，原件退回。
'Was it strange for you, going back after such a long absence?' — 'Yes and no.'
“那么长时间不在，然后又回来，你会觉得陌生吗？”——“既陌生又不陌生。”
There has been much gossip about the possible reasons for his absence
关于他缺席的原因有很多传言。
In the absence of a will the courts decide who the guardian is.
在没有遗嘱的情况下，由法庭指定监护人。
She did not mention her mother's absence
她并没有说起她母亲不在场的事。
There is more to good health than the mere absence of disease
身体健康不仅仅指不生病，还包括更多。