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, Paramount Global is in the midst of an exclusive 30-day negotiating window with Skydance Media. —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024

At present, all seven members of the group — V, Jimin, Jungkook, Suga, RM, Jin and J-Hope — are in the midst of their mandatory South Korean military service, with the full group not expected to reunite until next year. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 18 Apr. 2024

The film takes place in what appears to be a very near future, if not an alternate present. —Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2024

At present, the bioeconomy generates at least 5% of U.S. GDP; in comparison, semiconductors only constitute around 1% of U.S. GDP. —Eric Schmidt, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024

At present, fire department medics respond to 29,000 emergencies each year. —Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024

The Celtics, right now, are looking at their present. —Hunter Felt, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

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

Verb

The arrival of Allen Iverson in 1996 presented the league with a conundrum. —TIME, 19 Apr. 2024

And that’s what Viet Thanh Nguyen advocated for, to have the series, like his book, present a Vietnamese point of view on the war. —Quyen Do, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024

Under potential options presented by administrators, the committee chaired by Carr — the Committee on Parent and Community Engagement (PACE) — could be reduced to meeting every other month, rather than monthly. —Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024

Attorney General Anne Lopez presented the latest report along with Steve Kerber, vice president of the Fire Safety Research Institute. —Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024

Google records showed Beard started searching for how to remove gun powder from his hands, according to evidence presented at trial. —Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Apr. 2024

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

Adjective

From singing priests and parents cradling babies to acrobats and surfers, all walks of life are present in stone at Otagi Nenbutsuji. —John Clifford, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2024

Heavy winter clothing was also present at the scene. —Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024

Reason for hope In 2022, the team published its findings from the eight-month mark, which showed the biomarkers of COVID-19 were present in patients with long COVID, in connection with their lingering symptoms. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024

Delta-9, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, is also present in low levels in hemp, and can also be extracted and synthesized. —John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Ashley Okwuosa, The Examination | Amy Yurkanin, Al.com, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024

In 2015, federal recommendations were simplified to make 0.7 pm the standard level at which fluoride should be present in community water. —USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024

Other children and Dylan Farrow’s baby sitter reportedly were present at the property. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024

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

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

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