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)

• gift
• presentation
• donation

Verb

• offer
• give
• stage

Adjective

• current
• ongoing
• recent

Noun (2)

• today
• now
• moment

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

Noun (1)

an impressive array of presents for the bride and groom

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.

Noun (2)

I cannot talk to you at present, but perhaps in a few minutes

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

At present, there are no details on the containment or cause of the fire. —Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025

Thereby enabling the Town Managers to correlate presents needs of new residency to Town Capital Improvement Projects upgrades. —Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025

Verb

Johnson shared his concerns with Robert Van Zile, chairman of the Mole Lake Sokaogon Ojibwe, before Van Zile presented his 2023 State of the Tribes Address. —Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025

Both present themselves as kitchen-table centrists with extensive military and national security experience. —Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025

Adjective

If agents plan to detain or arrest an individual, sheriff deputies must be present — but do not assist — to ensure safety. —Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025

During the team’s inaugural season in its new city, Carol Davis was present to light the torch dedicated to her late husband before the team’s first home game in 2020. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025

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 3a

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

Rhymes for present

• peasant
• pheasant
• pleasant
• omnipresent
• unpleasant

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