If μ(Ω)<∞, then μ≪ν exactly when for every ε>0 there is δ>0 such that ν(A)<δ implies μ(A)<ε. For necessity, a contrary sequence with ν(An)<2−n and μ(An)≥ε has tail unions decreasing to a ν-null limsup; continuity from above for finite μ contradicts absolute continuity.