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
Gaudí actually worked on a big restoration project there, presented to Bishop Campins. Miles Socha, Footwear News, 24 May 2025 Davis presented the 2025 award to one standout female director from the Cannes Short Film Competition or La Cinef selection. Hedy Phillips, People.com, 24 May 2025
Adjective
Higgins, Read and O'Keefe were all present at the Waterfall Bar and Grille on Jan. 28, 2022, and Jackson asked Bukhenik whether surveillance video showed Higgins being aggressive toward O'Keefe. Michael Ruiz , Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2025 Burks said those officers help intervene in conflicts, connect with families and are present in the classrooms and campuses, building trusting relationships with students as young as kindergartners. Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
Noun
Put another way, her perfume past does not necessarily describe her perfume present. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 21 May 2025 At present, consensus forecasts suggest that Intuit will report earnings per share of $10.91 on revenues of $7.56 billion for the upcoming quarter. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for present
Recent Examples of Synonyms for present
Verb
  • The episode offered clarity on what happened between the two leads after Ellie (Bella Ramsey) learned what Joel did last season.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 25 May 2025
  • The moral dilemma faced by Osama, as Abou Sami offers him freedom in exchange for a cut, feels suddenly interrupted by each injection of the wider world, instead of the two being interwoven.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • In that last area, Google is catching up to Apple, which introduced a similar series of airline partnerships last December.
    Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 14 May 2025
  • Like other invasives, the carp were introduced in the 1960s to help aquaculture in the South, but have since spread to 31 states.
    Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Friends have suggested donating my eggs, but this does not resolve my dilemma.
    Amanda Sloat, Time, 14 May 2025
  • The software, donated by wildfire recovery foundations, aims to speed up a process already being criticized as moving too slowly.
    Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Premium economy updates Premium Plus seats on the 787-9s will feature privacy dividers and wireless charging, an update from the current premium economy configuration across United's fleet.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • The Trail Blazers' current owner, Jody Allen, inherited the team in 2018 after the death of her brother, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.
    Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • What’s the Takeaway for People With Heart Failure? Experiencing issues with planning and thinking can be especially problematic for people with heart failure, given the complex self-care required to manage the condition.
    Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 16 May 2025
  • Each team is given an equal budget and must strategically acquire the most valuable prizes, all while aiming to reach the final round and claim the grand prize.
    Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Start small by volunteering or freelancing to ease yourself back into a professional setting.
    AllBusiness, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • The proposal is part of the agency's response to the ongoing delays and cancellations that have resulted from tech difficulties in the air traffic control tower.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • Headlines often mention the ongoing power struggle between President Donald Trump’s administration and private colleges such as Columbia University and Harvard University.
    Amy Li, The Conversation, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Toy Association, which has more than 900 members, is urging the U.S. government to grant a reprieve from tariffs on toys imported from China to make sure toys available for the holiday season.
    Susan Tompor, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • Trapped: What Is Happening to Wendy Williams? is available to stream on Max.
    Liza Esquibias, People.com, 20 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Present.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/present. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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