Showing results for "present"

• a variation of present tense.

present

¹ American  

[prez-uhnt] / ˈprɛz ənt /

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.

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noun

1. the present time.

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

2. Grammar. present tense.

3. Law. presents, 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.

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.

present ² American  

[pri-zent, prez-uhnt] / prɪˈzɛnt, ˈprɛz ənt /

verb (used with object)

• presents,
  present (3rd person singular)
• presented,
  past participle,  past
• presenting
  present participle

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.

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verb (used without object)

• presents,
  present (3rd person singular)
• presented,
  past participle,  past
• presenting
  present participle

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, grant, benefaction, donation, offering

present ¹ British  

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. to appear, esp at a specific time and place

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noun

1. anything that is presented; a gift

2. to give someone something

   I'll make you a present of a new car

present ² British  

/ 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 topic

   the present author

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

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noun

1. the time being; now

2. grammar

   1. the present tense

   2. a verb in this tense

3. at the moment; now

4. for the time being; temporarily

present More Idioms  

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

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Synonym Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• presentness
  noun
• self-presented
  adjective
• unpresented
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• presenting
  present
• presented
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• present
  simple
• presents
  simple
• have presented
  perfect
• has presented
  perfect
• am presenting
  progressive
• are presenting
  progressive
• is presenting
  progressive
• have been presenting
  perfect progressive
• has been presenting
  perfect progressive

Past

• presented
  simple
• had presented
  perfect
• was presenting
  progressive
• were presenting
  progressive
• had been presenting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will present
  simple
• will have presented
  perfect
• will be presenting
  progressive
• will have been presenting
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

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; see 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; see origin at present ¹

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Explanation

The word present has multiple meanings, most of which concern giving (a present is a gift) or time (the present is right now). The verb present might mean to deliver something like a speech, or perform something like a play. On formal occasions, when we present someone, we introduce them, usually to a group or to the public. Present might also mean "to submit" or "hand over." In grammar, the present tense expresses actions or states occurring at the time we're speaking of them, that is to say, at this moment.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

present presents presented presenting

The results raised long-standing concerns over the quality of work and whether the lingering contamination could present risks to the residents.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

As the world descends on Antalya where scientists, experts and heads of state will gather to discuss global warming and how to slow it, thousands of activists will also be present to raise their voices.

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

By matching genetic material from the unidentified larvae with DNA from adult Prionus beetles, the researchers could determine which species was present.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026

At present, employers do not have to respond to employee requests for salary information about their co-workers.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

“Sorry, Jonah,” Dad says, his pointed stare glued on me, “but the deal’s off if Lexie’s not on board. He’s her birthday present, after all.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Allstar has long been a champion of UK rap and currently presents the Rap Show on BBC Radio 1, which he describes as "the show I always wanted as a kid".

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

Apple’s new chief executive, John Ternus, presents another wild card.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

As a result, it presents as if it really does have a sense of self, has its own desires, and a ‘wellbeing’ that deserves protection.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

However, creating these products presents challenges for food manufacturers.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026

He presents unusual criteria in what he is looking for.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

The war has cast a shadow on Persian Gulf nations that have long presented themselves as paragons of stability in a volatile region, mostly unaffected by the conflicts raging in the wider Middle East.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

In a study published in Science, the researchers presented compelling experimental evidence for altermagnetism, a distinct magnetic phase that combines important characteristics of the two traditionally recognized types.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026

The monetary authority said that a combination of higher inflation expectations and a deceleration of economic activity presented a challenging landscape for monetary policy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

On Wednesday morning, Herzog was presented with the official results by Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg at a ceremony in Jerusalem.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

Or, in the case of Gibby’s apartment, being presented with an equation that didn’t quite make sense.

From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Qatar is leading negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, with Tehran presenting a de-escalation plan that has yet to be accepted by Trump.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

As noted above, the government’s attorneys obtained the complaint by presenting a magistrate judge with a 27-page affidavit.

From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2026

By offering a repayment schedule, your stepmother is gently — or not so gently — attempting to twist your arm by presenting this request almost as a fait accompli.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

Xi opened the session on Monday, presenting a draft decision by the Central Committee that "sets out strategic plans for strengthening full and rigorous Party self-governance", state news agency Xinhua reported.

From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026

Sookie stopped and lifted the lid, presenting a pile of crustaceans, writhing like leggy bugs.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

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Related Words

• cite
• declare
• display
• do
• give
• offer
• perform
• pose
• produce
• raise
• show
• stage
• submit
• suggest

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