being, existing, or occurring at this time or now; current:[before a noun]the present economic situation.
being actually here or under consideration at this time or place:[before a noun]the present topic.
Grammar[before a noun] of or relating to a verb tense or form used to refer to an action or state existing at the moment of speaking (They're eating. I know the answer ) or to an event that is done or occurs by habit (He drives to work), and is also sometimes used to express the future (The plane leaves at six tomorrow).
being with one or others or in the place mentioned or understood by the speaker and listener:[be + ~]Carbon is present in many minerals.
the present time:If there's work to be done, there's no time like the present.
Grammar
the present tense:Put that verb into the present.
a verb form in the present tense, as knows.
Idioms
Idiomsat present, at the present time or moment; now:We don't know at present who will win the election.
Idiomsfor the present, for now; temporarily:We don't have housing for you just yet, so for the present you'll have to stay in this hotel.
pre•sent2/v. prɪˈzɛnt; n. ˈprɛzənt/USA pronunciationv.
to furnish or give a gift or the like, esp. by formal act: [~ + object + to + object]The awards committee presented the winner's trophy to her for the sixth time.[~ + object + with + object]The committee presented her with the winner's trophy.
to bring, offer, or give, often in a formal way or in a ceremony of introduction:[~ + object]The new ambassador presented his credentials to the King.
to furnish or provide (an opportunity, etc.): [~ + object]The test is easy; it should present no difficulties.[~ + object + to + object]The oil shortage presented a golden opportunity to them to raise prices.[~ + object + with + object]presented them with a golden opportunity.
to hand over or submit (a bill): [~ + object + to + object]The headwaiter presented the check to me.[~ + object + with + object]He presented me with the check.
to introduce (a person) to another, esp. in a formal manner:[~ + object]Let me present my fiancée.
Show Business to bring before or introduce to the public:[~ + object]to present a new play.
to come to show (oneself ) before a person, in or at a place, etc.:[~ + oneself]The new teacher presented himself to the principal promptly the next morning.
to bring forth before another or others; offer for consideration:[~ + object]to present an alternative plan.
to set forth in words:[~ + object]to present arguments.
being, existing, or occurring at this time or now; current:the present ruler.
at this time; at hand; immediate:articles for present use.
Grammar
noting an action or state occurring at the moment of speaking. Knows is a present form in He knows that.
noting or pertaining to a tense or other verb formation with such meaning.
being with one or others or in the specified or understood place:to be present at the wedding.
being here:Is everyone present?
existing or occurring in a place, thing, combination, or the like:Carbon is present in many minerals.
being actually here or under consideration:the present document; the present topic.
being before the mind.
[Obs.]mentally alert and calm, esp. in emergencies.
[Obs.]immediate or instant.
n.
the present time.
Grammar
the present tense.
a verb formation or construction with present meaning.
a form in the present.
Lawpresents, the present writings, or this document, used in a deed of conveyance, a lease, etc., to denote the document itself:Know all men by these presents.
[Obs.]the matter in hand.
Idiomsat present, at the present time or moment; now:There are no job openings here at present.
Idiomsfor the present, for now; temporarily:For the present, we must be content with matters as they stand.
Old French. See pre-, is, -ent
Latin praesent- (stem of praesēns) present participle of praeësse to be present, before others, i.e., to preside, be in charge; (noun, nominal) Middle English: presence, spatial or temporal present; partly derivative of the adjective, adjectival, partly
Old French
(adjective, adjectival) Middle English 1250–1300
pres′ent•ness, n.
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged extant. See current.
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged absent.
pre•sent2(v. pri zent′;n. prez′ənt),USA pronunciationv.t.
to furnish or endow with a gift or the like, esp. by formal act:to present someone with a gold watch.
to bring, offer, or give, often in a formal or ceremonious way:to present one's card.
afford or furnish (an opportunity, possibility, etc.).
to hand over or submit, as a bill or a check, for payment:The waiter presented our bill for lunch.
to introduce (a person) to another, esp. in a formal manner:Mrs. Smith, may I present Mr. Jones?
Show Businessto bring before or introduce to the public:to present a new play.
to come to show (oneself ) before a person, in or at a place, etc.
Show Businessto show or exhibit:This theater will present films on a larger screen.
to bring forth or render for or before another or others; offer for consideration:to present an alternative plan.
to set forth in words; frame or articulate:to present arguments.
to represent, impersonate, or act, as on the stage.
to direct, point, or turn (something) to something or someone:He presented his back to the audience.
to level or aim (a weapon, esp. a firearm).
Law
to bring against, as a formal charge against a person.
to bring formally to the notice of the proper authority, as an offense.
British Terms, Religion[Eccles. Brit.]to offer or recommend (a member of the clergy) to the bishop for institution to a benefice.
n.pres•ent
a thing presented as a gift; gift:Christmas presents.
Medieval Latin praesentāre to give, show, present for approval, Latin: to exhibit (to the mind or senses), derivative of praesēnspresent1
Old French presenter
Old French, origin, originally in phrase en present in presence (see present1); (verb, verbal) Middle English presenten
(noun, nominal) Middle English 1175–1225
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged bestow, donate. See give.
2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged proffer.
3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged yield.
5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See introduce.
9.See corresponding entry in Unabridged introduce.
11.See corresponding entry in Unabridged enact.
16.See corresponding entry in Unabridged benefaction, grant, tip, gratuity. Present,gift,donation,bonus refer to something freely given. Present and gift are both used of something given as an expression of affection, friendship, interest, or respect. Present is the less formal; gift is generally used of something conferred (esp. with ceremony) on an individual, a group, or an institution:a birthday present; a gift to a bride.Donation applies to an important gift, most often of money and usually of considerable size, though the term is often used to avoid the suggestion of charity in speaking of small gifts to or for the needy:a donation to an endowment fund, to the Red Cross.Bonus applies to something, again usually money, given in addition to what is due, esp. to employees who have worked for a long time or particularly well:a bonus at the end of the year.
(prenominal)in existence at the moment in time at which an utterance is spoken or written
(postpositive)being in a specified place, thing, etc: the murderer is present in this room
(prenominal)now in consideration or under discussion: the present topic, the present author
denoting a tense of verbs used when the action or event described is occurring at the time of utterance or when the speaker does not wish to make any explicit temporal reference
readily available; instant: present help is at hand
the present tense
a verb in this tense
for the present ⇒ for the time being; temporarily
Etymology: 13th Century: from Latin praesens, from praeesse to be in front of, from prae- before, in front + esse to be
present/prɪˈzɛnt/(mainly tr)
to introduce (a person) to another, esp to someone of higher rank
to introduce to the public: to present a play
to introduce and compere (a radio or television show)
to show; exhibit: he presented a brave face to the world
to bring or suggest to the mind: to present a problem
to give or award: to present a prize
to endow with or as if with a gift or award: to present a university with a foundation scholarship
to offer formally: to present one's compliments
to offer or hand over for action or settlement: to present a bill
to represent or depict in a particular manner: the actor presented Hamlet as a very young man
to salute someone with (one's weapon) (usually in the phrase present arms)
to aim or point (a weapon)
to nominate (a member of clergy) to a bishop for institution to a benefice in the bishop's diocese
to lay (a charge, etc) before a court, magistrate, etc, for consideration or trial
to bring a formal charge or accusation against (a person); indict
(intransitive)(usually followed by with)(of a patient) to exhibit a particular symptom or problem: she presented with postnatal depression
(of a disease or symptom) to be evident; appear
(intransitive)to produce a favourable, etc impression: she presents well in public, he presents as harmless but has poisoned his family
present oneself ⇒ to appear, esp at a specific time and place
/ˈprɛzənt/
anything that is presented; a gift
Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French presenter, from Latin praesentāre to exhibit, offer, from praesenspresent1
'be present at' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):