present
/ˈpɹɛz.ənt/ adjective, noun, verb
Forms presents presenting presented præsent ps.
- adjective Relating to now, for the time being; current. “The barbaric practice continues to the present day.”
- adjective Located in the immediate vicinity. “Only half of all present members were present at the meeting.”
- adjective (obsolete) Having an immediate effect (of a medicine, poison etc.); fast-acting.
- adjective (obsolete) Not delayed; immediate; instant.
- adjective (dated) Ready; quick in emergency. “a present wit”
- adjective (obsolete) Favorably attentive; propitious.
- adjective 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”
- adjective Attentive; alert; focused. “Sorry, I was distracted just now, I'll try to be more present from now on.”
- noun The current moment or period of time.
- noun (grammar) The present tense.
- noun A gift, especially one given for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, or any other special occasions. “wedding present”
- noun (military) The position of a soldier in presenting arms. “The platoon stands at present.”
- noun (colloquial, euphemistic, endearing) Poo; feces. “I think our toddler's just left us a little present in his diaper...”
- verb To bring (someone) into the presence of (a person); to introduce formally. “to present an envoy to the king”
- verb (intransitive) To appear or represent oneself outwardly. “With your shabby attire, you do not present well as a prospective investment banking associate!”
- verb (transitive) To nominate (a member of the clergy) for an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.
- verb (transitive) To offer (a problem, complaint) to a court or other authority for consideration.
- verb (transitive, now rare) To charge (a person) with a crime or accusation; to bring before court.
- verb (reflexive) To come forward, appear in a particular place or before a particular person, especially formally.
- verb (transitive) To put (something) forward in order for it to be seen; to show, exhibit.
Synonyms
close presentaneous instantaneous this current audient heedful reckful nearby contemporary hodiern modern de nos jours present-day now compliment bestow nowadays present tense show demo exhibit demonstrate represent lay out stage submit pose award give
Antonyms
antonym(s) of absent slow-acting delayed distracted inattentive future past
Etymology
From Middle English present, from Old French present, from Latin praesent-, praesens, present participle of praeesse (“to be present”), from Latin prae- (“pre-”) + esse (“to be”). Displaced Old English andweard (“present, current”).
From Middle English presenten, from Old French presenter, from Latin praesentāre (“to show”), from praesent-, praesens, present participle of praeesse (“be in front of”).
From presend + -t.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Being at hand, within reach or call, within certain contemplated limits; --opposed to absent.
- adjective Now existing, or in process; begun but not ended; now in view, or under consideration; being at this time; not past or future; as, the present session of Congress; the present state of affairs; the present instance.
- noun Present time; the time being; time in progress now, or at the moment contemplated; as, at this present.
- noun pl. (Law)
Etymology [F. présent, L. praesens,-entis, that is before one, in sight or at hand, p. p. of praeesse to be before; prae before + esse to be. See Essence.]
Etymology [Cf. F. présent. See Present, a.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “present”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details