absent without leave

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While he was gone, Army leaders declared him absent without leave, opting to not consider him a deserter, which is far more serious.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 19, 2023

The Pentagon has so far described King’s formal status as “AWOL,” or absent without leave.

From Reuters • Aug. 4, 2023

The Navy said he had gone absent without leave and had been listed as an “active deserter” since March 11, 2019.

From New York Times • Jan. 20, 2023

The British Army said a small number of soldiers had "disobeyed orders and gone absent without leave" and may have travelled to Ukraine "in a personal capacity".

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2022

"So I should have been had it come off on a Sunday," said Beecher, pleasantly; "but as in seeing old Paul 'tucked in' they might have nabbed me, I preferred being reported absent without leave."

From Davenport Dunn, Volume 1 (of 2) A Man Of Our Day by Lever, Charles James