The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word ABSENT
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
A
B
S
E
N
T
More clues leading to the result ABSENT
- Bovine disease in insect not there
- A disposition to pinch soprano, but not there
- Worker, carrying infectious disease, not present
- A bishop ecstatic, distracted
- Sailor dispatched, not here
- A bachelor told to go away
- Disease social worker keeps missing
- A tendency to ring son that’s not working
- A son restricted by talent for daydreaming
- . Distracted sailors lost net
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "away" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case away = absent.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ABSENT mean?
ABSENT noun- (with definite article) Something absent, especially absent people collectively; those who were or are not there.
- An absentee; a person who is not there.
- Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present; missing.
- Not existing; lacking.
- (sometimes comparable) Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied.
- In the absence of; without; except.
- To keep (oneself) away.
- To keep (someone) away.
- Stay away; withdraw.
- Leave.