English
present
Pronunciation
  • (adjective, noun)
    • enPR: prĕzʹənt, IPA: /ˈpɹɛzənt/
  • (verb)
    • enPR: prĭzĕnt', IPA: /pɹɪˈzɛnt/
    • (Canada) IPA: /pɹəˈzɛnt/
Adjective

present

  1. Relating to now, for the time being; current.
    The barbaric practice continues to the present day.
    The present manager has been here longer than the last one.
  2. Located in the immediate vicinity.
    Is there a doctor present?  Several people were present when the event took place.
  3. (obsolete) Having an immediate effect (of a medicine, poison etc.); fast-acting. [16th-18th c.]
    • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Alteratiues and Corials, corroborating, reſoluing the reliques, and mending the Temperament”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, OCLC 54573970 ↗, partition 2, section 5, member 1, subsection 5:
      Amongſt this number of Cordials and Alteratiues, J doe not find a more preſent remedy, then a cup of wine, or ſtrong drinke, and if it be ſoberly and opportunely vſed.
  4. (obsolete) Not delayed; immediate; instant.
    • c. 1603–1604, William Shakespeare, “Measvre for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act II, scene ii]:
      Sign me a present pardon for my brother,
    • An ambassador […] desires a present audience.
  5. (dated) Ready; quick in emergency.
    a present wit
  6. (obsolete) Favorably attentive; propitious.
  7. Relating to something a person is referring to in the very context, with a deictic use similar to the demonstrative adjective this.
    in the present study,  the present article,  the present results.
  8. Attentive; alert; focused.
    Sorry, I was distracted just now, I'll try to be more present from now on.
Synonyms Antonyms Related terms Translations Translations Noun

present (plural presents)

  1. The current moment or period of time.
  2. The present tense.
Synonyms Translations Noun

present (plural presents)

  1. A gift, especially one given for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, or any other special occasions.
  2. (military) The position of a soldier in presenting arms.
    to stand at present
Verb

present (presents, present participle presenting; past and past participle presented)

  1. To bring (someone) into the presence of (a person); to introduce formally. [from 14th c.]
    to present an envoy to the king
  2. (transitive) To nominate (a member of the clergy) for an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution. [from 14th c.]
  3. (transitive) To offer (a problem, complaint) to a court or other authority for consideration. [from 14th c.]
  4. (transitive, now, rare) To charge (a person) with a crime or accusation; to bring before court. [from 14th c.]
    • 1971, Keith Thomas (historian), Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society 2012, page 71:
      In the diocese of Gloucester in 1548 two inhabitants of Slimbridge were presented for saying that holy oil was ‘of no virtue but meet to grease sheep’.
  5. (reflexive) To come forward, appear in a particular place or before a particular person, especially formally. [from 14th c.]
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Job 1:6 ↗:
      Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the lord.
  6. (transitive) To put (something) forward in order for it to be seen; to show, exhibit. [from 14th c.]
    • 1712 May, [Alexander Pope], “The Rape of the Locke. An Heroi-comical Poem.”, in Miscellaneous Poems and Translations. By Several Hands, London: Printed for Bernard Lintott […], OCLC 228744960 ↗:
      So ladies in romance assist their knight, / Present the spear, and arm him for the fight.
    • 2020, NFL rule 7 section 4 article 7:
      Note: The offensive team must present a legal formation both before and after a shift.
  7. (transitive) To make clear to one's mind or intelligence; to put forward for consideration. [from 14th c.]
    • 1927, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes:
      I do begin to realize that the matter must be presented in such a way as may interest the reader.
  8. (transitive) To put on, stage (a play etc.). [from 16th c.]
    The theater is proud to present the Fearless Fliers.
  9. (transitive, military) To point (a firearm) at something, to hold (a weapon) in a position ready to fire. [from 16th c.]
  10. (reflexive) To offer oneself for mental consideration; to occur to the mind. [from 16th c.]
    Well, one idea does present itself.
  11. (intransitive, medicine) To come to the attention of medical staff, especially with a specific symptom. [from 19th c.]
    The patient presented with insomnia.
  12. (intransitive, medicine) To appear (in a specific way) for delivery (of a fetus); to appear first at the mouth of the uterus during childbirth. [from 18th c.]
  13. (intransitive, with "as") To appear or represent oneself (as having a certain gender).
    At that time, Elbe was presenting as a man.
  14. (transitive) To act as presenter on (a radio, television programme etc.). [from 20th c.]
    Anne Robinson presents "The Weakest Link (UK game show)".
  15. (transitive) To give a gift or presentation to (someone). [from 14th c.]
    She was presented with an honorary degree for her services to entertainment.
  16. (transitive) To give (a gift or presentation) to someone; to bestow. [from 14th c.]
    • My last, least offering, I present thee now.
  17. (transitive) To deliver (something abstract) as though as a gift; to offer. [from 14th c.]
    I presented my compliments to Lady Featherstoneshaw.
  18. (transitive) To hand over (a bill etc.) to be paid. [from 15th c.]
  19. (intransitive, zoology) To display one's female genitalia in a way that signals to others that one is ready for copulation. Also referred to as lordosis behaviour. [from 20th c.]
Translations Translations Translations
  • Portuguese: presentear (a gift), premiar (an award, prize or trophy)
  • Russian: дари́ть
  • Spanish: presentar
Translations

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