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

The team discovered that loxapine and even more so entacapone severely inhibited many microbiome members, while E. coli dramatically expanded in the presence of entacapone.

From Science Daily

She also welcomed the continued presence at the London Coliseum, and said she would "keep an eye on the impact of ENO's work in Manchester on companies that already perform with musicians in that space".

From BBC

The girl’s mother, who has two other children, was arrested in February 2021 after a urine test on her daughter showed the presence of ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory drug, which had not been prescribed.

From BBC

Villarreal: You talked earlier about reaching this stage in your career where you want to have a little bit more active presence or role in the work that you do.

From Los Angeles Times

So when L7 started putting together its own festival, the Fast and Frightening Takeover at the Belasco on Nov. 23, Sparks made sure women had a powerful presence.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• behavior
• personality