What does absolute value mean?

is how far a number is away from zero |(insert number)| is the symbol for it. example: |-6| = 6, because -6 is 6 numbers away from zero. The same applies for positives. |6| = 6, because 6 is 6 numbers away from 0.
Imagine yourself as a point. Underground= negative numbers
and above ground=positive numbers. an apple is zero
so if you have ABS (5) that means you are 5 steps away from the apple. It doesnt say if your above ground or not.
the explanation is a little hard but thats how many people learn it