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definitions

present

1
[prez-uhnt]
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR present ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

noun

Idioms

    at present, at the present time or moment; now: There are no job openings here at present.
    for the present, for now; temporarily: For the present, we must be content with matters as they stand.

Origin of present

1
1250–1300; (adj.) Middle English < Old French < Latin praesent- (stem of praesēns) present participle of praeësse to be present, before others, i.e., to preside, be in charge; (noun) Middle English: presence, spatial or temporal present; partly derivative of the adj., partly < Old French. See pre-, is, -ent
Related formspres·ent·ness, noun

Synonyms for present

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR present ON THESAURUS.COM
1. extant.

Synonym study

1. See current.

Antonyms for present

1. absent.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for at present

presently, directly, previously, then, before, earlier, once, forthwith, pronto, straightaway, formerly, heretofore, now
British Dictionary definitions for at present

present

1

adjective

(prenominal) in existence at the moment in time at which an utterance is spoken or written
(postpositive) being in a specified place, thing, etcthe murderer is present in this room
(prenominal) now in consideration or under discussionthe present topic; the present author
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
archaic readily available; instantpresent help is at hand
archaic mentally alert; attentive

noun

the present the time being; now
grammar
  1. the present tense
  2. a verb in this tense
at present at the moment; now
for the present for the time being; temporarily
See also presents

Word Origin for present

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

present

2

verb (prɪˈzɛnt) (mainly tr)

to introduce (a person) to another, esp to someone of higher rank
to introduce to the publicto present a play
to introduce and compere (a radio or television show)
to show; exhibithe presented a brave face to the world
to put forward; submitshe presented a proposal for a new book
to bring or suggest to the mindto present a problem
to give or awardto present a prize
to endow with or as if with a gift or awardto present a university with a foundation scholarship
to offer formallyto present one's compliments
to offer or hand over for action or settlementto present a bill
to represent or depict in a particular mannerthe actor presented Hamlet as a very young man
to salute someone with (one's weapon) (usually in the phrase present arms)
to aim or point (a weapon)
to nominate (a clergyman) to a bishop for institution to a benefice in his diocese
to lay (a charge, etc) before a court, magistrate, etc, for consideration or trial
to bring a formal charge or accusation against (a person); indict
mainly US (of a grand jury) to take notice of (an offence) from personal knowledge or observation, before any bill of indictment has been drawn up
(intr) med to seek treatment for a particular symptom or problemshe presented with postnatal depression
(intr) informal to produce a favourable, etc impressionshe presents well in public; he presents as harmless but has poisoned his family
present oneself to appear, esp at a specific time and place

noun (ˈprɛzənt)

anything that is presented; a gift
make someone a present of something to give someone somethingI'll make you a present of a new car

Word Origin for present

C13: from Old French presenter, from Latin praesentāre to exhibit, offer, from praesens present 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for at present

present

adj.

c.1300, "existing at the time," from Old French present "evident, at hand, within reach;" as a noun, "the present time" (11c., Modern French présent) and directly from Latin praesentem (nominative praesens) "present, at hand, in sight; immediate; prompt, instant; contemporary," from present participle of præesse "be before (someone or something), be at hand," from prae- "before" (see pre-) + esse "to be" (see essence). Meaning "being there" is from mid-14c. in English. As a grammatical tense, recorded from late 14c.

present

v.

c.1300, "introduce (someone or something) formally or ceremonially;" also "make a formal presentation of; give as a gift or award; bestow," from Old French presenter (11c., Modern French présenter) and directly from Latin praesentare "to place before, show, exhibit," from stem of praesens (see present (adj.)). From late 14c. as "exhibit (something), offer for inspection, display;" also, in law, "make a formal complaint or charge of wrongdoing." From c.1400 as"represent, portray." Related: Presented; presenting.

present

n.1

"this point in time" (opposed to past and future), c.1300, "the present time," also "act or fact of being present; portion of space around someone," from Old French present (n.) from Latin praesens "being there" (see present (adj.)). In old legalese, these presents means "these documents."

present

n.2

c.1200, "thing offered, what is offered or given as a gift," from Old French present and Medieval Latin presentia, from phrases such as French en present "(to offer) in the presence of," mettre en present "place before, give," from Late Latin inpraesent "face to face," from Latin in re praesenti "in the situation in question," from praesens "being there" (see present (adj.)), on the notion of "bringing something into someone's presence."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
at present in Medicine

present

[prĭ-zĕnt′]

v.

To appear or be felt first during birth. Used of the part of the fetus that proceeds first through the birth canal.
To place oneself in the presence of a doctor or other medical provider as a patient with a complaint or condition.
To manifest a symptom.
To attach or be capable of attaching to a cell surface, especially for detection by other molecules.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with at present

at present

Also, at the present time. Now, as in I've not enough cash at present to lend you any, or At present the house is still occupied. This slightly longer way of saying “at this time” formerly was even longer— at this present or at that present—denoting a more specific time. [Mid-1600s] Also see at this point.

present

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.