presence
[prez-uh ns]
- 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.
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Origin of presence
Synonyms
See more synonyms for presence on Thesaurus.com3. neighborhood. 6. carriage, mien.
Antonyms
1. absence.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for presence
Contemporary Examples
He appeared to understand however belatedly that he was in the presence of another kind of greatness.
No one who lives in an American city requires a flashlight to detect the presence of immigrants or the challenges they face daily.
In general, their presence is meant to throw you off your game by design.
Since 2009, the goat has had a thriving Twitter presence as well, today enjoying up to nearly 8,000 followers.
The young man had the presence of mind to tail Gaylard Williams out of the park and jot down his license plate.
Historical Examples
Philothea has glided from the apartment, as if afraid to remain in my presence.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
"His countenance and his voice troubled me, like the presence of evil," answered Philothea.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
If it please you, lady, my master bids me say he desires your presence.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
But for the stranger's presence it would have been attended to two hours earlier.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
As a foil to his austerity, therefore, she would be audaciously gay in his presence.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
presence
- 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
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Word Origin
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
n.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper