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
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. 2024
How to use present in a sentence
Not long after the holiday presents are put away and the guests have gone home, another season begins.
America presents two contradictory narratives that it struggles to reconcile.
What are your feelings about the wave of support that always immediately presents itself from the other side?
The Unbearable Whiteness of Protesting | Rawiya Kameir, Judnick Mayard | December 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAs of Friday, just how the final publication would play out remained a mystery, like so many Christmas presents under the tree.
CIA Won’t Defend Its One-Time Torturers | Shane Harris, Tim Mak | December 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe prizes are impressive and give a window into just what sort of presents people give the pope.
Pope Francis Raffles Off His Swag to Help the Poor | Barbie Latza Nadeau | November 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
This he was prevented from doing by Nabal's wife, who came out to meet David with fine presents and fine words.
God and my Neighbour | Robert BlatchfordThe distinction is based chiefly upon etiology, although each type presents a more or less distinctive blood-picture.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddEmbodying in itself all the others, in some aspects of its character it presents these united in a singular and beauteous whole.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John CunninghamThese facts are without a doubt among the most curious that commerce presents.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.Suppose a person presents a check and the maker's deposit is not enough to pay the full amount, what can be done?
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney Bolles
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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