Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

present

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of present

1 existing or in progress right now
  • I am very busy at the present moment
Synonyms of present

current, extant, immediate, instant, ongoing, present-day
Words Related to present

contemporary, mod, modern, modernistic, new, newfangled, new-fashioned, recent, red-hot, space-age, supermodern, ultramodern, up-to-date

being, breathing, existent, existing, living
Near Antonyms of present

coming, future, unborn

completed, concluded, done, ended, finished, over, terminated, through, up

ancient, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, archaic, dated, fusty, musty, noncontemporary, obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, outworn, passé

ago, bygone, erstwhile, former, past
2 being within the confines of a specified place
  • all of you are required to be present for every meeting
Synonyms of present

attending, in
Words Related to present

accompanying, observing, participating

available

abounding

latent

breathing, existent, existing, extant, live
Phrases Synonymous with present

at hand, in attendance, on hand
Near Antonyms of present

departed, gone, retired

nonexistent

AWOL, truant

dead, deceased, defunct, demised

lost, vanished

belated, delayed, delinquent, late, overdue, tardy
Antonyms of present

absent, away, missing, out
1

present

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of present

the time currently existing or in progress
  • I cannot talk to you at present, but perhaps in a few minutes
Synonyms of present

here and now, moment, now, today
Words Related to present

phase, stage, state
Near Antonyms of present

history, past, yesterday, yesteryear, yore

by-and-by, future, futurity, hereafter, offing, tomorrow
2

present

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of present

something given to someone without expectation of a return
  • an impressive array of presents for the bride and groom
Synonyms of present

bestowal, comp, donation, donative, fairing [British], freebie (or freebee), gift, giveaway, handsel, lagniappe, largesse (also largess), presentation
Words Related to present

alms, benefaction, beneficence, benevolence, charity, contribution, dole, handout, oblation, offering, philanthropy, tithe

box [British], care package, foy [chiefly Scottish]

grant, subsidy

remembrance, tribute, valentine

bonus, boon, windfall

courtesy, favor, generosity, sacrifice

gratuity, propine [Scottish], tip

award, prize, reward

dowry

bequest, legacy
Near Antonyms of present

advance, loan

bribe, douceur, peace offering, sop

present

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of present

1 to bring before the public in performance or exhibition
  • we will present a performance of Our Town tomorrow evening
Synonyms of present

carry, give, mount, offer, stage
Words Related to present

display, exhibit, expose, parade, show, show off, unveil

preview

act, impersonate, perform, play, portray

depict, dramatize, enact, render, represent

extend, proffer, tender
Phrases Synonymous with present

come out with
2 to make (one person) known (to another) socially
  • may I present my niece Sarah?
Synonyms of present

acquaint, introduce
Words Related to present

address, greet, hail, meet

reacquaint, reintroduce
3 to make a present of
  • the company presented a gold watch to him on the occasion of his retirement
Synonyms of present

bestow, contribute, donate, give, give away, volunteer
Words Related to present

chip in, kick in, pitch in, throw in

award, confer, endow, endue (or indue), render

afford, comp, furnish, provide

lavish, regale

aid, assist, benefit, help

administer, dish out, dispense, dole out, hand out, impart, issue, mete (out)

extend, fork (over, out, or up), offer, pay, proffer, pungle (up), put up, tender

sacrifice
Phrases Synonymous with present

give of
Near Antonyms of present

hold, keep, pocket, retain, withhold

preserve, save

advance, lend, loan

sell

Synonym Discussion of 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

Learn More about present

  1. See words that rhyme with present Dictionary: Definition of present Medical Dictionary: Definition of present Spanish Central: Translation of present Nglish: Translation of present for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of present for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about present

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up present? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

parabolic

Listen to the pronounciation of parabolic

of or relating to a parable or parabola

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. crawdad New novel makes waves

  2. non sequitur, sequitur Manafort judge addresses defense

  3. trope AOC tweets against border wall

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games