Bump into worktop after being oddly absent (9)
I believe the answer is:
encounter
'bump into' is the definition.
('encounter' can be a synonym of 'bump into')
'worktop after being oddly absent' is the wordplay.
'worktop' becomes 'counter' (I've seen this before).
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'oddly absent' means one should take alternating letters (odd-numbered letters removed).
The alternating letters of 'being' are 'en'.
'counter' after 'en' is 'ENCOUNTER'.
(Other definitions for encounter that I've seen before include "Meet, come across" , "fight" , "Face" , "Struggle" , "Meet unexpectedly" .)