presence

[ prez-uhns ]

noun

1. the state or fact of being present, as with others or in a place.

   Antonyms: absence

2. attendance or company:

   Your presence is requested.

3. immediate vicinity; proximity:

   in the presence of witnesses.

   Synonyms: neighborhood

4. the military or economic power of a country as reflected abroad by the stationing of its troops, sale of its goods, etc.:

   the American military presence in Europe;

   the Japanese presence in the U.S. consumer market.

5. Chiefly British. the immediate personal vicinity of a great personage giving audience or reception:

   summoned to her presence.

6. the ability to project a sense of ease, poise, or self-assurance, especially the quality or manner of a person's bearing before an audience:

   The speaker had a good deal of stage presence.

   Synonyms: mien, carriage

7. personal appearance or bearing, especially of a dignified or imposing kind:

   a man of fine presence.

8. a person, especially of noteworthy appearance or compelling personality:

   He is a real presence, even at a private party.

9. a divine or supernatural spirit felt to be present:

   He felt a presence with him in the room.

10. British Obsolete. presence chamber.

presence

/ ˈprɛzəns /

noun

1. the state or fact of being present
2. the immediate proximity of a person or thing
3. personal appearance or bearing, esp of a dignified nature
4. an imposing or dignified personality
5. an invisible spirit felt to be nearby
6. electronics a recording control that boosts mid-range frequencies
7. (of a recording) a quality that gives the impression that the listener is in the presence of the original source of the sound
8. obsolete.
   assembly or company
9. obsolete.
   short for presence chamber

Other Words From

• non·presence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of presence¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin praesentia; present ¹, -ence

Word History and Origins

Origin of presence¹

C14: via Old French from Latin praesentia a being before, from praeesse to be before, from prae before + esse to be

Example Sentences

A cordon has been put up around the area - close to the M61- and there is a large emergency services presence at the scene.

From BBC

In other words, the immune cells responsible for recognizing cancer may get somehow habituated to the presence of a cancer cell -- the immune cell gets used to the stimulus and no longer responds to it.

From Science Daily

The Palestinian official told the BBC that the Hamas negotiators had adjusted their presence in the region and were keeping their locations secret to avoid embarrassment for host countries.

From BBC

The company has a significant presence abroad, with 26 offices outside the U.S., working with more than 1,000 producers from more than 50 countries.

From Los Angeles Times

Secondly, these pollutants are difficult to detect due to their volatile presence in the atmosphere.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• behavior
• personality