The resonant vibration of machinery and resiliently mounted equipment can be reduced with a dynamic absorber of suitable design. The necessary analytical and graphical information for an optimum design is presented in this paper. It is assumed that the absorber mass is attached resiliently to the vibrating item with a rubber‐like material, and not with a spring and dashpot in parallel as considered in the classical theory of Ormondroyd and Den Hartog. The dynamic absorber utilizing a material with a stiffness proportional to frequency and a constant damping factor can reduce the resonant vibration of machinery and equipment items considerably. Its performance is superior to that of the classical dynamic absorber.