Explaining “Absence makes the heart grow fonder”

What does it mean?

The phrase "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" suggests that when people are apart, their feelings for each other grow stronger. Distance and time apart can increase affection because absence heightens appreciation and longing for the other person.

Tone

Origin

The phrase is an ancient proverb that indicates a sentiment that was likely expressed throughout history. One of the earliest recorded uses in English was by the poet Thomas Haynes Bayly in the song "Isle of Beauty" in 1844, but the concept has been present in literature for much longer.