present 1 of 4

present

2 of 4

adjective

present

3 of 4

noun (1)

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

present

4 of 4

noun (2)

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb present contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of present are afford, bestow, confer, donate, and give. While all these words mean "to convey to another as a possession," present carries a note of formality and ceremony.

present an award

In what contexts can afford take the place of present?

The words afford and present are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When might bestow be a better fit than present?

While in some cases nearly identical to present, bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver.

bestow unwanted advice

When is it sensible to use confer instead of present?

In some situations, the words confer and present are roughly equivalent. However, confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor).

confer an honorary degree

Where would donate be a reasonable alternative to present?

The synonyms donate and present are sometimes interchangeable, but donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity).

donate a piano to the orphanage

When could give be used to replace present?

While the synonyms give and present are close in meaning, 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of present
Verb
This case presents their unique chance to vindicate that value and to summon the best that is within us while there is still time. Time Staff, Time, 18 Apr. 2025 The federal prosecutor did a wonderful job and presented the case to their jury, sought justice and got justice for Alexis and her family. Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Marvel has since pulled the film entirely from its release calendar, and Lindo isn't at present involved. Nick Romano, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025 Though Turtle was not physically present, Green made sure she was honored in a heartfelt toast. John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
What To Know At present, the United States does not charge immigrants to apply for asylum protections, which also stops them from being deported. Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025 About 10,000 employees work there at present, many of whom are tasked with operating both the Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope. Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for present
Recent Examples of Synonyms for present
Verb
  • Brentford offered lots of options for this exercise and Keane Lewis-Potter solved some problems at left-back.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • All offers end April 30 (each can only be used once and offers do not stack).
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • To that end, the show creators introduced Catherine O’Hara as Joel’s therapist Gail in the first episode of Season 2.
    Eliana Dockterman, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Reddit introduced progressively stricter controls to stop bots from accessing the platform, after instituting a controversial change to its API policies in 2023 that forced devs to pay up.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Keiser said fans responded by donating ears in a variety of themes — Haunted Mansion, Star Wars, Main Street Electrical Parade, Minnie Mouse — from personal piles and storage.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Resting at auction and donate the proceeds to the organization.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But the report cautioned that the positive results could change if current economic volatility leads to a deterioration of the jobs market.
    Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • After all, only six No. 8 seeds have eliminated a No. 1 seed in the first round of the playoffs since the current 16-team NBA playoff format was instituted for the 1983-84 season.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Despite that, a growing number of companies do so voluntarily because the information gives them a leg up in the business world.
    Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The federal government gives nothing for day-to-day operations, but the MTA does receive more than $2 billion annually for capital improvements, primarily for repair work to keep the system functional and safe.
    Brian Fritsch, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • More than 2,000 employees have volunteered for a reassignment.
    Ashley Lopez, NPR, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Harper volunteered for a five-year term on her medical school's admission committee, has given numerous presentations, and has taught medical students and residents.
    Angela D. Harper, EverydayHealth.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • His first significant trip outside Rome as pontiff was to the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, a key site in Europe's ongoing migration crisis.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Mollie Helpern, a spokesperson for the Pentagon's inspector general, told NPR that Stebbins is aware of news reports about Hegseth's second Signal chat, and that the evaluation is ongoing.
    Destinee Adams, NPR, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Which player-team pairings seem best? Winners and losers from Round 1 Best available players for Friday Several prominent prospects are still waiting to hear their name get called during the 2025 NFL Draft.
    Jim Reineking, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Present.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/present. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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