present
1Grammar. 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.
being with one or others or in the specified or understood place: to be present at the wedding.
being here: Is everyone present?
existing or occurring in a place, thing, combination, or the like: Carbon is present in many minerals.
being actually here or under consideration: the present document;the present topic.
being in the mind; recollected: The memories were still present to her mind.
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.
Obsolete. mentally alert and calm, especially in emergencies.
Obsolete. immediate or instant: present payment.
the present time: She has one foot in the present and one foot in the future.
Grammar. present tense.
presents, Law. 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 . . . .
Obsolete. the matter in hand.
Idioms about present
at present, at the present time or moment; now: There are no job openings here at present.
for the present, for now; temporarily: For the present, we must be content with matters as they stand.
Origin of present
1Other words for present
Opposites for present
Other words from present
- pres·ent·ness, noun
Words Nearby present
Other definitions for present (2 of 2)
to furnish or endow with a gift or the like, especially by formal act: to present someone with a gold watch.
to bring, offer, or give, often in a formal or ceremonious way: You'll have to present your passport at the airport.
afford or furnish (an opportunity, possibility, etc.).
to hand over or submit, as a bill or a check, for payment: The waiter presented our bill for lunch.
to introduce (a person) to another, especially in a formal manner: Mrs. Smith, may I present Mr. Jones?
to bring before or introduce to the public: to present a new play.
to come to show (oneself) before a person, at a place, etc.
to show or exhibit: This theater will present films on a larger screen.
to bring forth or render for or before another or others; offer for consideration: to present an alternative plan.
to set forth in words; frame or articulate: to present arguments.
to represent, impersonate, or act, as on the stage.
to direct, point, or turn (something) to something or someone: He presented his back to the audience.
to level or aim (a weapon, especially a firearm).
Law.
to bring against, as a formal charge against a person.
to bring formally to the notice of the proper authority, as an offense.
British Ecclesiastical. to offer or recommend (a member of the clergy) to the bishop to be granted a benefice.
Medicine/Medical.
(of a fetus) to be visible at the cervix during labor: In a normal delivery, the baby’s head presents first.
(of a medical condition) to be evident from the presence of certain symptoms: Depression often presents with disturbed sleep or appetite.
(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.
Origin of present
2synonym study For present
Other words for present
Other words from present
- self-pre·sent·ed, adjective
- un·pre·sent·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use present in a sentence
We’re pleased to be present in so many relationships this year, even more so than before.
Republicans, by many accounts, aren’t even considering the arguments being presented in the trial.
How Has The Nation Changed Since The Insurrection At The Capitol? | Micah Cohen (micah.cohen@fivethirtyeight.com) | February 11, 2021 | FiveThirtyEightWe should request that staff conduct a feasibility study and to present the results of that study to this committee by the end of the year.
Vacancy Tax Study Is Giving City Officials Déjà Vu | Lisa Halverstadt and Andrew Keatts | February 10, 2021 | Voice of San DiegoIn five years of Insights puzzles, we’ve tried to present questions that lived up to the column’s name.
He was a tough guy, but also admired and respected by his players and most in the media, present company included.
Marty Schottenheimer’s legacy can be measured in teams’ regret over letting him go | Leonard Shapiro | February 9, 2021 | Washington Post
In his view, a writer has only one duty: to be present in his books.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President | Pierre Assouline | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAngelina Jolie was able to seemingly glide into the Vatican on Thursday to present her new film ‘Unbroken.’
Pope Francis Has the Pleasure of Meeting Angelina Jolie for a Few Seconds | Barbie Latza Nadeau | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTDisordered eating is also linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety, both in the present and in the future.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models | Carrie Arnold | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTIn the middle of all of that past suffering and present-day conflict, this Cosby bomb was dropped.
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers | Stereo Williams | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe account goes some way in showing just how present the Quds and other forces are in Iraq at this point in time.
What an Iranian Funeral Tells Us About the Wars in Iraq | IranWire | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTBut Mrs. Dodd, the present vicar's wife, retained the precious prerogative of choosing the book to be read at the monthly Dorcas.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsThe Rev. Alonzo Barnard, seventy-one years of age, accompanied by his daughter, was present.
Among the Sioux | R. J. CreswellSeveral pioneers familiar with the facts of the tragedy at the time of its occurrence were also present.
Among the Sioux | R. J. CreswellBacteria, when present in great numbers, give a uniform cloud which cannot be removed by ordinary filtration.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddAt present, Louis was too self-absorbed by the struggles within him, to look deep into what was passing around him.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane Porter
British Dictionary definitions for present (1 of 2)
/ (ˈprɛzənt) /
(prenominal) in existence at the moment in time at which an utterance is spoken or written
(postpositive) being in a specified place, thing, etc: the murderer is present in this room
(prenominal) now in consideration or under discussion: the present topic; the present author
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
archaic readily available; instant: present help is at hand
archaic mentally alert; attentive
the present the time being; now
grammar
the present tense
a verb in this tense
at present at the moment; now
for the present for the time being; temporarily
Origin of present
1- See also presents
British Dictionary definitions for present (2 of 2)
to introduce (a person) to another, esp to someone of higher rank
to introduce to the public: to present a play
to introduce and compere (a radio or television show)
to show; exhibit: he presented a brave face to the world
to put forward; submit: she presented a proposal for a new book
to bring or suggest to the mind: to present a problem
to give or award: to present a prize
to endow with or as if with a gift or award: to present a university with a foundation scholarship
to offer formally: to present one's compliments
to offer or hand over for action or settlement: to present a bill
to represent or depict in a particular manner: the actor presented Hamlet as a very young man
to salute someone with (one's weapon) (usually in the phrase present arms)
to aim or point (a weapon)
to nominate (a clergyman) to a bishop for institution to a benefice in his diocese
to lay (a charge, etc) before a court, magistrate, etc, for consideration or trial
to bring a formal charge or accusation against (a person); indict
mainly US (of a grand jury) to take notice of (an offence) from personal knowledge or observation, before any bill of indictment has been drawn up
(intr) med to seek treatment for a particular symptom or problem: she presented with postnatal depression
(intr) informal to produce a favourable, etc impression: she presents well in public; he presents as harmless but has poisoned his family
present oneself to appear, esp at a specific time and place
anything that is presented; a gift
make someone a present of something to give someone something: I'll make you a present of a new car
Origin of present
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with present
see all present and accounted for; at present; for the moment (present); no time like the present.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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