present

1 of 4

noun (1)

pres·​ent ˈpre-zᵊnt 

: something presented : gift

present

2 of 4

verb

pre·​sent pri-ˈzent 

presented; presenting; presents

transitive verb

1

: to make a gift to

2

: to give or bestow formally

3

a

: to bring (something, such as a play) before the public

b(1)

: to bring or introduce into the presence of someone especially of superior rank or status

(2)

: to introduce socially

4

a

: to offer to view : show

b

: to bring to one's attention

This presents a problem.

5

a

: to lay (something, such as a charge) before a court as an object of inquiry

b

: to bring a formal public charge, indictment, or presentment against

6

: to nominate to a benefice

7

: to aim, point, or direct (something, such as a weapon) so as to face something or in a particular direction

8

: to act the part of : perform

intransitive verb

1

: to make a presentation

2

: to become manifest

3

: to come forward as a patient

4

: to present a weapon

present

3 of 4

adjective

pres·​ent ˈpre-zᵊnt 

1

: now existing or in progress

2

a

: being in view or at hand

b

: existing in something mentioned or under consideration

3

: constituting the one actually involved, at hand, or being considered

4

: of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is expressive of present time or the time of speaking

5

archaic : instant, immediate

6

obsolete : attentive

presentness noun

present

4 of 4

noun (2)

pres·​ent ˈpre-zᵊnt 

1

: the present time

2

a

: the present tense of a language

b

: a verb form in the present tense

3

a

presents plural : the present words or statements

specifically : the legal instrument or other writing in which these words are used

b

obsolete : present occasion or affair

Phrases

at present

: at or during this time : now

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• bestowal
• comp
• donation
• donative
• fairing [British]
• freebie
• freebee
• gift
• giveaway
• handsel
• lagniappe
• largesse
• largess
• presentation

Verb

• carry
• give
• mount
• offer
• stage

Adjective

• current
• extant
• immediate
• instant
• ongoing
• present-day

Noun (2)

• here and now
• moment
• now
• today

Choose the Right Synonym for present

give, present, donate, bestow, confer, afford mean to convey to another as a possession.

give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means.

give alms

gave her a ride on a pony

give my love to your mother

present carries a note of formality and ceremony.

present an award

donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity).

donate a piano to the orphanage

bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver.

bestow unwanted advice

confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor).

confer an honorary degree

afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver.

the trees afford shade

a development that affords us some hope

Examples of present in a Sentence

Verb

He presented the queen with a diamond necklace.

He was presented with a medal at the ceremony.

She presented a check for $5,000 to the charity.

The scientist presented his results to the committee.

She will be presenting a paper on methods for teaching ESL at the conference.

What time will you be presenting?

An offer was presented for our consideration.

The Main Street Theater Company is presenting Shakespeare's Othello next month.

The museum is presenting an exhibition of paintings by Monet.

Adjective

The game has existed in its present form for more than 300 years.

I am very busy at the present moment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

At present, Variety is tracking only 50 limited contenders. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024

By easing the intestinal walls, the formula ensures all the waste present within the digestive tract is flushed out while relieving constipation. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

At present, that ratio stands at around 99%, though a recent report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) put that figure at 166% by 2054. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024

The Heat would prefer not to again face the uphill climb that the play-in tourney presents, but that possibility is again a reality for Miami. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024

Cause has purchased Christmas presents for needy families in De Soto. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2024

Ditto the postmodern digs at his nation’s past and our extremely online present. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2024

Practical and fun presents that won't get an eye roll. —Nykia Spradley, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2024

Karen, a middle-aged man with a face deeply lined with resilience and pain, recalls a combative past and bemoans a chaotic present. —Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024

Verb

Another potential issue Beam said may present itself is cloud coverage. —Sadie Lacicero, arkansasonline.com, 7 Apr. 2024

Playhouse in the Park’s touring company presents this play, based on the beloved story by C.S. Lewis. —Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024

Fisher presented Dutcher with a sport coat that all new members of the club receive. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024

Here's a look at the evidence presented at her trial. —Emily Wichick Hourihane, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024

Three firms presented their proposals to the court Thursday. —Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024

In 1984, the always-forward-thinking (and variably solvent) designer presented an unforgettable, to-capacity show at the Ritz nightclub. —Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 6 Apr. 2024

Hormonal Birth Control Doesn’t Deserve Its Bad Reputation While the pad, which makes direct contact with an open cut, would seem to present the greater contamination danger, mere contact with the skin via the adhesive flaps may be enough to allow PFAS to leach into the body, says Collins. —Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024

There was even a plan to present Melody in a more ghostly way by having her levitate in the air like most of the franchise’s ghosts, but Kenan and co. opted to do away with that idea in order to make Melody as humanly accessible as possible. —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024

Adjective

In its report, the Air Force said officials later attempted to replicate the fatal sequence of events in the same spot with the drone's engine running at the same power setting with similar twilight conditions and airfield lighting that were present on the night Cosme was killed. —Stephen Smith, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024

Joe Lo Truglio, Joel McKinnon Miller and Dirk Blocker were also present, along with Samberg, Peretti and Beatriz. —Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024

According to the Washington Post report, in the rush to complete SWAT raids and the accompanying paperwork, there isn't much thought given to the safety of minor children or vulnerable youth, or others who might be living or present in the home. —Pamela Appea, Parents, 7 Apr. 2024

Such events, held by Hobbs and governors before her, allow the leaders to put a spotlight on high-profile bills, often with news organizations present. —Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024

Now, some teeth and ear bones uncovered in present day Inner Mongolia are offering some fresh insight into early mammalian evolution. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 Apr. 2024

So consider focusing on being present in the moment to enjoy the celestial spectacle. —The Npr Network, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024

The lessons here are obvious for any war, present or future. —David Meyer, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024

Should any other adults in their lives be present? Create a welcoming environment for the conversation Choose a calm, safe space and time to bring up your diagnosis with childrens. —Sarah Klein, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from presenter

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French presenter, from Latin praesentare, from praesent-, praesens, adjective

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin praesent-, praesens, from present participle of praeesse to be before one, from prae- pre- + esse to be — more at is

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3b(1)

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Phrases Containing present

• all present and accounted for
• all present and correct
• at the present time
• present arms
• historical present
• present-day
• present company excluded
• present company excepted
• the present
• present value
• present tense
• present participle
• present oneself
• present perfect
• present writer
• the present day
• there's no time like the present
• the present perfect
• co-present
• re-present
• at present
• the present writer

Kids Definition

present

1 of 4 noun

pres·​ent ˈprez-ᵊnt 

: something presented

present

2 of 4 verb

pre·​sent pri-ˈzent 

1

a

: to introduce one person to another

b

: to bring before the public

present a play

2

: to make a gift to

presented me with a watch

3

: to give or hand over with ceremony

present a medal

4

: to make an accusation against someone

present a charge

5

: to offer to view : display, show

presents a fine appearance

presenter noun

present

3 of 4 adjective

pres·​ent ˈprez-ᵊnt 

1

: being or going on now : not past or future

the present situation

2

: being before or near a person or in sight : being at a certain place and not elsewhere

all the pupils were present

was present at the ceremony

3

: of, relating to, or being a verb tense that expresses present time or the time of speaking

present

4 of 4 noun

pres·​ent ˈprez-ᵊnt 

1

a

: present tense

b

: a verb form in the present tense

2

: the present time

Medical Definition

present

transitive verb

pre·​sent pri-ˈzent 

: to show or manifest

patients who present symptoms of malaria

intransitive verb

1

a

: to become manifest

Lyme disease often presents with erythema migrans, fatigue, fever, and chills

b

: to come forward as a patient

he presented with grossly swollen ankles and large varicose veins

—T. E. Greene

2

: to become directed toward the opening of the uterus

—used of a fetus or a part of a fetus

babies which present by breech

—Year Book of Obstetrics & Gynecology

Legal Definition

present

1 of 2 transitive verb

pre·​sent pri-ˈzent 

1

: to lay before a court as an object of consideration

present a complaint

presented a defense of insanity

2

: to make a presentment of (an instrument)

presentation

ˌprē-ˌzen-ˈtā-shən, ˌpre-, -zən- 

noun

presenter noun

present

2 of 2 adjective

pres·​ent ˈpre-zənt 

1

: now existing

a present undivided interest in the property

a present ability to pay

2

: constituting the one actually involved or being considered

the present case

3

: being in attendance : being in one place and not elsewhere

no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present

—U.S. Constitution art. I