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

I secretly loved how the flower craned skyward, never quick to diminish its presence, what I considered its sharp elegance.

From Los Angeles Times

Worried about the potential for homeless encampment sweeps and an oppressive police presence during the Games, the group has taken note of Hoover’s background.

From Los Angeles Times

The chaos was quite fitting for an event criticised by many boxing purists, but it was given some credibility by the presence of pound-for-pound greats Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.

From BBC

Pre-match tensions were already in evidence after a pro-Israeli “gala” event was given the go-ahead for Wednesday evening in Paris, which the far-right Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich was at one point expected to attend – although it was later thought his “presence” would be by video-link.

From BBC

They are areas where Hezbollah has a strong presence and which have been frequently targeted by Israel during its war with the Iran-backed political and military group.

From BBC

Related Words

• behavior
• personality