Metamaterial (MTM) absorbers and their design have been of prime interest in view of their capability to absorb electromagnetic waves of high frequencies. Different types of MTM absorbers have been reported in the last two decades. Keeping this in view an attempt was made to review the progress of MTM absorbers in terms of the theory behind them, designing and construction. This paper reviewed the basic theory and design regulations of a perfect MTM absorber at high, narrow and broad band frequencies. Also we reviewed tunable frequency and coherent absorbers. This exercise was done to focus on recent developments in metamaterial absorbers and present the tested results in a more precise way