present arms

pre·sent arms | \ pri-ˈzent-

How to pronounce present arms (audio)

\

Definition of present arms

1 : a position in the manual of arms in which the rifle is held vertically in front of the body

2 : a command to assume the position of present arms or to give a hand salute

Examples of present arms in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The guards at Schönbrunn were forbidden to present arms and were instructed to look at the ground when her carriage passed. — David Netto, Town & Country, "Was This Photo of an Austrian Empress the World's First Paparazzi Photo?," 7 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'present arms.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about present arms

Dictionary Entries near present arms

presentation copy

presentationism

Statistics for present arms

Time Traveler for present arms

The first known use of present arms was circa 1884

See more words from the same year

WORD OF THE DAY

bruit

to spread as a report or rumor

Test Your Vocabulary

Confusing Words—A Quiz

I invented a brand new toaster robot and ______ it "Sir Toasts-a-Lot."

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.