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.

OTHER WORDS FOR presence

3 neighborhood.

6 carriage, mien.

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OPPOSITES FOR presence

1 absence.

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Origin of presence

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

OTHER WORDS FROM presence

non·pres·ence, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use presence in a sentence

It is within these alters that demonic presences frequently make their homes.
My $295 Skype Exorcism|Scott Bixby|February 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Or perhaps Matt Damon, one of the most consistently reliable screen presences over the last 15 years?
Why Joaquin Phoenix, Who Wows in ‘Her,’ Is the Greatest Actor Alive|Marlow Stern|December 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Instead, he plops them into the narrative as unnerving little presences.
Charles Frazier in the Fast Lane|Malcolm Jones|October 14, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Renai senses odd presences, and starts seeing shadowy figures.
Insidious' Unsettling Horror|Keith Phipps|April 1, 2011|DAILY BEAST

I confess I speedily lost consciousness of the human presences beside me, and I have little doubt Joan did too.
Three More John Silence Stories|Algernon Blackwood
Mr. Gunning looked about him, still alarmed, still surrounded as in his dream, by appalling presences.
The Creators|May Sinclair
They are so accustomed to human presences that, even if sometimes a nuisance, they are more often a joy.
The Cornwall Coast|Arthur L. Salmon
At their remote doors they paused to throw kisses into the black dark toward each other's invisible presences.
What Will People Say?|Rupert Hughes
From time to time I was aware of steps in the tunnel-like passage outside, and of presences peering.
Sea and Sardinia|D. H. Lawrence

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

presence

OTHER WORDS FOR presence

OPPOSITES FOR presence

Origin of presence

OTHER WORDS FROM presence

Words related to presence

How to use presence in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for presence

Word Origin for presence