present

¹

[ prez-uhnt ]

adjective

1. being, existing, or occurring at this time or now; current:

   increasing respect for the present ruler of the small country.

   Synonyms: extant

   Antonyms: absent

2. at this time; at hand; immediate:

   articles for present use.

3. Grammar. designating a verb tense, construction, or form used to refer to an action or state occurring at the time of speaking or writing: knows is a present form in He knows that.
4. being with one or others or in the specified or understood place:

   to be present at the wedding.

5. being here:

   Is everyone present?

6. existing or occurring in a place, thing, combination, or the like:

   Carbon is present in many minerals.

7. being actually here or under consideration:

   the present document;

   the present topic.

8. being in the mind; recollected:

   The memories were still present to her mind.

9. focused on or involved in what one is doing at a particular moment; attentive:

   When you’re talking to someone, be present instead of thinking about something else.

10. Obsolete. mentally alert and calm, especially in emergencies.
11. Obsolete. immediate or instant:

    present payment.

noun

1. the present time:

   She has one foot in the present and one foot in the future.

2. Grammar. present tense ( def ).
3. presents, Law. the present writings, or this document, used in a deed of conveyance, a lease, etc., to denote the document itself:

   Know all men by these presents that . . . .

4. Obsolete. the matter in hand.

present

²

[ verb pri-zent; noun prez-uhnt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish or endow with a gift or the like, especially by formal act:

   to present someone with a gold watch.

   Synonyms: donate, bestow

2. to bring, offer, or give, often in a formal or ceremonious way:

   You'll have to present your passport at the airport.

   Synonyms: proffer

3. afford or furnish (an opportunity, possibility, etc.).

   Synonyms: return, provide, produce

4. to hand over or submit, as a bill or a check, for payment:

   The waiter presented our bill for lunch.

5. to introduce (a person) to another, especially in a formal manner:

   Mrs. Smith, may I present Mr. Jones?

6. to bring before or introduce to the public:

   to present a new play.

7. to come to show (oneself) before a person, at a place, etc.
8. to show or exhibit:

   This theater will present films on a larger screen.

9. to bring forth or render for or before another or others; offer for consideration:

   to present an alternative plan.

   Synonyms: introduce

10. to set forth in words; frame or articulate:

    to present arguments.

11. to represent, impersonate, or act, as on the stage.

    Synonyms: enact

12. to direct, point, or turn (something) to something or someone:

    He presented his back to the audience.

13. to level or aim (a weapon, especially a firearm).
14. Law.
    1. to bring against, as a formal charge against a person.
    2. to bring formally to the notice of the proper authority, as an offense.
15. British Ecclesiastical. to offer or recommend (a member of the clergy) to the bishop to be granted a benefice.

verb (used without object)

1. Medicine/Medical.
   1. (of a fetus) to be visible at the cervix during labor:

      In a normal delivery, the baby’s head presents first.

   2. (of a medical condition) to be evident from the presence of certain symptoms:

      Depression often presents with disturbed sleep or appetite.

   3. (of a patient) to have a certain symptom or medical condition, especially as reported during a medical examination:

      A 22-year-old man presents with shortness of breath.

noun

1. a thing presented as a gift; gift:

   Christmas presents.

   Synonyms: gratuity, tip, benefaction, donation, offering, grant

present

¹

/ ˈprɛzənt /

adjective

1. prenominal in existence at the moment in time at which an utterance is spoken or written
2. postpositive being in a specified place, thing, etc

   the murderer is present in this room

3. prenominal now in consideration or under discussion

   the present author

   the present topic

4. grammar denoting a tense of verbs used when the action or event described is occurring at the time of utterance or when the speaker does not wish to make any explicit temporal reference
5. archaic.
   readily available; instant

   present help is at hand

6. archaic.
   mentally alert; attentive

noun

1. the present
   the time being; now
2. grammar
   1. the present tense
   2. a verb in this tense
3. at present
   at the moment; now
4. for the present
   for the time being; temporarily

present

²

verb

1. to introduce (a person) to another, esp to someone of higher rank
2. to introduce to the public

   to present a play

3. to introduce and compere (a radio or television show)
4. to show; exhibit

   he presented a brave face to the world

5. to put forward; submit

   she presented a proposal for a new book

6. to bring or suggest to the mind

   to present a problem

7. to give or award

   to present a prize

8. to endow with or as if with a gift or award

   to present a university with a foundation scholarship

9. to offer formally

   to present one's compliments

10. to offer or hand over for action or settlement

    to present a bill

11. to represent or depict in a particular manner

    the actor presented Hamlet as a very young man

12. to salute someone with (one's weapon) (usually in the phrase present arms )
13. to aim or point (a weapon)
14. to nominate (a clergyman) to a bishop for institution to a benefice in his diocese
15. to lay (a charge, etc) before a court, magistrate, etc, for consideration or trial
16. to bring a formal charge or accusation against (a person); indict
17. (of a grand jury) to take notice of (an offence) from personal knowledge or observation, before any bill of indictment has been drawn up
18. intr med to seek treatment for a particular symptom or problem

    she presented with postnatal depression

19. informal.
    intr to produce a favourable, etc impression

    she presents well in public

    he presents as harmless but has poisoned his family

20. present oneself
    to appear, esp at a specific time and place

noun

1. anything that is presented; a gift
2. make someone a present of something
   to give someone something

   I'll make you a present of a new car

Other Words From

• pres·ent·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of present¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the adjective) from Middle English present(e), presa(u)nt, from Old French present, from Latin praesent-, stem of praesēns “being present,” present participle of praeesse “to be present, be before others, preside, be in charge”; (for the noun) from Middle English present(e), presant “presence (in space or time),” partly derivative of the adjective, partly from Old French; pre-, essence

Origin of present²

First recorded 1200–50; Middle English noun present(e), presant, from Old French present, originally in phrase en present “in presence”; Middle English verb presenten, present(e), from Old French presenter, from Medieval Latin praesentāre “to give, show, present for approval,” Latin: “to exhibit (to the mind or senses),” derivative of praesēns; present ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of present¹

C13: from Latin praesens, from praeesse to be in front of, from prae- before, in front + esse to be

Origin of present²

C13: from Old French presenter, from Latin praesentāre to exhibit, offer, from praesens present ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at present, at the present time or moment; now:

   There are no job openings here at present.

2. for the present, for now; temporarily:

   For the present, we must be content with matters as they stand.

More idioms and phrases containing present

see all present and accounted for ; at present ; for the moment (present) ; no time like the present .

Synonym Study

See give. Present, gift, donation, bonus refer to something freely given. Present and gift are both used of something given as an expression of affection, friendship, interest, or respect. Present is the less formal; gift is generally used of something conferred (especially with ceremony) on an individual, a group, or an institution: a birthday present; a gift to a bride. Donation applies to an important gift, most often of money and usually of considerable size, though the term is often used in speaking of small gifts to or for people who need help: a donation to an endowment fund, to the Red Cross. Bonus applies to something, again usually money, given in addition to what is due, especially to employees who have worked for a long time or particularly well: a bonus at the end of the year.

Example Sentences

There are those who might argue for the former on unifying patriotic grounds, but the latter is the only defensible, self-respecting and indeed ethical posture, especially given present circumstances.

From Salon

Forty years on from the original recording, the cream of British and Irish pop music past and present are once again asking whether Ethiopians know it is Christmas.

From BBC

California officials have known for generations about this structural flaw, and the danger it presents.

From Los Angeles Times

But the roadmap for such collective action here — technically, Sardinia is an "autonomous region" of Italy, with its own government — presents a new path forward as a European climate leader on different terms.

From Salon

The safety of mass-produced food has improved dramatically in recent decades, but listeria, a common type of bacterium, presents unique hurdles.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• now
• today