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 Word Forms

• nonpresence 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

Right-wing commentators and student activists have labeled Bray “Dr. Antifa” and circulated petitions calling for his dismissal, saying that his presence “puts conservative students at risk.”

Read more on Salon

In addition to the presence of dust itself, the dust's composition was also surprising.

Read more on Science Daily

Yet much remains unclear, including the fate of Hamas’s arsenal and what sort of presence, if at all, Israel will maintain in the enclave.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Organizers responded by ramping up the security presence around the group for the rest of the match as McIlroy went on to earn another win, giving him 3.5 out of 4 possible points.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Overwhelmed by these exotic sights, this visitor completely overlooked the presence of small, shrew-like mammals—the very creatures whose descendants would, eventually, inherit the earth.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• behavior 
• personality