presence

[ prez-uhns ]

/ ˈprɛz əns /

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noun

the state or fact of being present, as with others or in a place.

attendance or company: Your presence is requested.

immediate vicinity; proximity: in the presence of witnesses.

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.

Chiefly British. the immediate personal vicinity of a great personage giving audience or reception: summoned to her presence.

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.

personal appearance or bearing, especially of a dignified or imposing kind: a man of fine presence.

a person, especially of noteworthy appearance or compelling personality: He is a real presence, even at a private party.

a divine or supernatural spirit felt to be present: He felt a presence with him in the room.

British Obsolete. presence chamber.

Nearby words

Origin of presence

1300–50; Middle English < Middle French < Latin praesentia. See present¹, -ence

SYNONYMS FOR presence

3. neighborhood. 6. carriage, mien.

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ANTONYMS FOR presence

1. absence.

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Related formsnon·pres·ence, noun

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

Examples from the Web for presence

He appeared to understand however belatedly that he was in the presence of another kind of greatness.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
No one who lives in an American city requires a flashlight to detect the presence of immigrants or the challenges they face daily.
The 2014 Novel of the Year|Nathaniel Rich|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In general, their presence is meant to throw you off your game by design.
Brie Larson’s Hollywood Transformation|Marlow Stern|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Since 2009, the goat has had a thriving Twitter presence as well, today enjoying up to nearly 8,000 followers.
Sweden’s Burning Christmas Goat|Nina Strochlic|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The young man had the presence of mind to tail Gaylard Williams out of the park and jot down his license plate.
Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault|M.L. Nestel|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That father too embraced him and asked him in the presence of all,—“Do you remember both your lives, my son?”
The Kath Sarit Sgara|Somadeva Bhatta
Mrs. Stoddart sat down by the bed, and presently Annette, as if conscious of her presence, opened her eyes.
Notwithstanding|Mary Cholmondeley
It was apparent that, seasoned to surprises as they were, Nick's presence took them aback.
The Glimpses of the Moon|Edith Wharton
He no longer felt a dim animosity and inferiority in his presence.
Flappers and Philosophers|F. Scott Fitzgerald
No man is brave in presence of an earthquake, or a bursting boiler, or an exploding torpedo.
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth|Jules Verne

British Dictionary definitions for presence

presence

/ (ˈprɛzəns) /

noun

the state or fact of being present

the immediate proximity of a person or thing

personal appearance or bearing, esp of a dignified nature

an imposing or dignified personality

an invisible spirit felt to be nearby

electronics a recording control that boosts mid-range frequencies

(of a recording) a quality that gives the impression that the listener is in the presence of the original source of the sound

obsolete assembly or company

obsolete short for presence chamber

Word Origin for presence

C14: via Old French from Latin praesentia a being before, from praeesse to be before, from prae before + esse to be

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 presence

presence

mid-14c., "fact of being present," from Old French presence (12c., Modern French présence), from Latin praesentia "a being present," from praesentem (see present (n.)). Meaning "carriage, demeanor, aspect" (especially if impressive) is from 1570s; that of "divine, spiritual, or incorporeal being felt as present" is from 1660s. Presence of mind (1660s) is a loan-translation of French présence d'esprit, Latin praesentia animi.

presence

noun

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Origin of presence

Examples from the Web for presence

presence

noun

Word Origin for presence

presence