presence

noun

pres·​ence ˈpre-zᵊn(t)s How to pronounce presence (audio)
1
: the fact or condition of being present (see present entry 3)
2
a
: the part of space within one's immediate vicinity
b
: the neighborhood of one of superior especially royal rank
3
archaic : company sense 2a
4
: one that is present: such as
a
: the actual person or thing that is present
b
: something present of a visible or concrete nature
5
a
: the bearing, carriage, or air of a person
especially : stately or distinguished bearing
b
: a noteworthy quality of poise and effectiveness
the actor's commanding presence
6
: something (such as a spirit) felt or believed to be present

Examples of presence in a Sentence

Bacteria sense their neighbors and respond to the presence of others in the colony by exchanging small molecules and bits of proteins called peptides … Susan Gaidos, Science News, 17 Jan. 2009
Though because it is a seaside town, there are more people now that it's summer.  … As well, their presence means that our few restaurants—dark through the snowy months—are open now, their lights burning merrily into the summer evenings. Richard Ford, Wall Street Journal, 14-15 June 2008
The two authors suggest that war is better understood as a form of play than as a place of business, that Clausewitzian theory collapses into absurdity in the presence of atomic weapons. Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, September 2007
men should watch their language when in the presence of ladies the orchestra's musical director has a very stately presence
Recent Examples on the Web The company, based in Seattle, has been working for about four years on the technology, which comes as the commercial sector is working with NASA on its goal of building an enduring presence on and around the moon. Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 In San Francisco — where Waymo’s largest fleet of 250 robotaxis operate and residents have become more accustomed to their presence — there have been far more serious incidents. Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Her unrestricted joy of playing makes her presence on the screen unique. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 After the shooting was reported, the Elk Run Volunteer Fire Company posted on Facebook to avoid the area around the business due to heavy police presence. USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 When a TikTok rep was notified by Variety about the presence of certain songs on the platform, at least one of them was removed within an hour (or may already have been flagged with a takedown notice from UMG). Jem Aswad, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024 And yet none of this could compete with the presence of a white show poodle named Josephine. Amanda Fortini, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 One key tip off that morels are ready is the presence of mayapples, a woodland plant with large umbrella-like leaves. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Mar. 2024 They were kept behind chain-link fencing, with a heavy presence of police in riot gear after the authorities ordered them to disperse. Thomas Buckley, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'presence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see present entry 3

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of presence was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near presence

Cite this Entry

“Presence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presence. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

presence

noun
pres·​ence ˈprez-ᵊn(t)s How to pronounce presence (audio)
1
: the fact or state of being present
no one noticed the stranger's presence
2
: position close to a person
in the presence of a guest
3
: a person's appearance
a stately presence
4
: something felt or believed to be present
a ghostly presence

More from Merriam-Webster on presence

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