presentation

UK: /ˌprɛz^ənˈteɪʃ^ən/

US: /ˌprɛzənˈteɪʃən, ˌprizɛn-/

US: (prez′ən tā′shən, prē′zen-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pres•en•ta•tion /ˌprɛzənˈteɪʃən, ˌprizɛn-/   n. 

1. an act of presenting;
   the state of being presented:
   [uncountable] the presentation of news.
2. a manner or style of speaking, instructing, or putting oneself forward:
   [uncountable] Your presentation is all-important during an interview for a job.
3. [countable] a demonstration to a client of a proposed advertising campaign;
   pitch.
4. a performance or showing, as of a play or film:
   [countable] a high-school presentation of Our Town.
5. [countable] an offering, as of a gift.
6. [countable] a demonstration, lecture, or welcoming speech, as one of introduction.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pres•en•ta•tion  (prez′ən tā′shən, prē′zen-), n. 

1. an act of presenting.
2. the state of being presented.
3. a social introduction, as of a person at court.
4. an exhibition or performance, as of a play or film.
5. offering, delivering, or bestowal, as of a gift.
6. a gift.
7. a demonstration, lecture, or welcoming speech.
8. a manner or style of speaking, instructing, or putting oneself forward:
   His presentation was very poor.
9. [Com.] the presentment of a bill, note, or the like.
10. Medicine [Obstet.]
    • the position of the fetus in the uterus during labor.
    • the appearance of a particular part of the fetus at the cervix during labor:
      a breech presentation.
11. Religion [Eccles.] the act or the right of presenting a member of the clergy to the bishop for institution to a benefice.

• Late Latin praesentātiōn- (stem of praesentātiō) nomination (of a priest) to a benefice, religious dedication (of a person) by bringing him before God. See present², -ation
• Middle English 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

presentation / ˌprɛzənˈteɪʃən/ noun

1. the act of presenting or state of being presented
2. the manner of presenting, esp the organization of visual details to create an overall impression
3. a verbal report presented with illustrative material, such as slides, graphs, etc: a presentation on the company results
4. an offering or bestowal, as of a gift
5. (as modifier): a presentation copy of a book
6. a performance or representation, as of a play
7. the formal introduction of a person, as into society or at court; debut
8. the act or right of nominating a member of the clergy to a benefice
9. another word for presentment4
10. an archaic word for gift
11. (often capital)
    another name for (feast of) Candlemas

ˌpresenˈtational adjective