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present definition

pres·ent (prez′ənt; for v. prē zent′, pri-)

adjective

    1. being at the specified or understood place; at hand; in attendance
    2. existing (in a particular thing) nitrogen is present in the air
  2. of or at this time; existing or happening now; in progress
  3. now being discussed, considered, written, read, etc. the present writer
  4. Archaic readily available, effective, etc.
  5. Obsolete
    1. self-possessed; collected
    2. paying attention
  6. Gram. indicating action as now taking place (Ex.: she goes) or state as now existing (Ex.: the plums are ripe), action that is habitual (Ex.: he speaks with an accent), or action that is always the same (Ex.: the clock strikes twelve at noon)

Etymology: OFr < L praesens, prp. of praeesse, to be present < prae-, before (see pre-) + esse, to be (see essence)

noun

  1. the present time
  2. Obsolete the present occasion
    1. the present words or writings
    2. Law this very document know by these presents
  4. Gram.
    1. the present tense
    2. a verb form in this tense

  5. Etymology: OFr, in phr. mettre en present à, to put before (someone), present, offer, hence a gift

    something presented, or given; gift

transitive verb present pre·sent′

  1. to bring (a person) into the presence of, and introduce formally to, another or others
    1. to honor (someone), esp. formally, with a gift, award, etc. the mayor presented him with the keys to the city
    2. to provide or confront (someone) with something this presents us with a difficult problem
    1. to offer for viewing or notice; exhibit; display; show
    2. to offer (a show, exhibit, etc.) to the public
  4. to offer for consideration to present a plan, opportunity, etc.
  5. to give (a gift, donation, award, etc.) to a person, organization, etc.
  6. to hand over, give, or send (a bill, credentials, etc.) to someone
  7. to represent, depict, or interpret in the manner indicated
  8. to point or aim (a weapon, etc.)
  9. to nominate to an ecclesiastical benefice
  10. Law
    1. to put before a legislature, court, etc. for consideration
    2. to bring a charge or indictment against

Etymology: ME presenten < OFr presenter < L praesentare, to place before, lit., to make present < praesens: see presentthe

intransitive verb present pre·sent′

to come before a physician (with a particular symptom, medical history, etc.)
present Idioms

pre·sent′· arms

Mil.
  1. to hold a rifle vertically in front of the body, with the muzzle up: a position of salute
    1. this position
    2. the command to assume it

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms present idiom

medical present definition - medical

present Synonyms

present

modif.

  1. Near in time

    now, existing, being, in process, in duration, begun, started, commenced, going on, under consideration, at this time, contemporary, contemporaneous, coeval, ad hoc, immediate, instant, prompt, at this moment, at present, today, nowadays, already, even now, but now, just now, for the time being, for the nonce, for the occasion; see also modern 1, now 1.

    Antonyms past*, over*, completed. *

  2. Near in space

    in view, at hand, within reach; see near 1.


present

n.

  1. The present time

    instant, this time, present moment, now; see today.

  2. A gift

    gift, grant, donation; see gift 1. See syn. study at gift.


present

v.

  1. To introduce

    make known, acquaint with, give an introduction; see introduce 3.

  2. To display

    exhibit, show, manifest; see display 1.

  3. To suggest

    imply, infer, intimate; see hint.

  4. To submit

    donate, proffer, put forth, sponsor; see offer 1.

  5. To give

    grant, bestow, confer; see give 1.

  6. To give a play, etc.

    put on, do, impersonate; see act 3, perform 2. See syn. study at give.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

present Usage Examples

Object

  • finding: In 1640 a further perambulation was held and its findings presented to a Survey Court in August of the following year.

Preposition: at

  • conference: Each of the above papers has been presented at conferences by either Vivien Beattie or Bill.

Used with why or when

  • which: A planning framework that encourages creativity was presented which can be applied to a lesson or sequence of lessons across the age range.

Preposition: in

  • format: Relevant details of the primary studies were presented in tabular format.

Preposition: with

  • certificate: After the feeding ( presuming you have survived ) you are presented with a certificate as a memento.
present usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

present quotes

The function of the artist is to disturb. His duty is to arousethesleeper, toshakethe complacent pillars ofthe world.He reminds the world of its dark ancestry, and shows the world its present, and points the way to its new birth.He isat oncetheproduct and thepreceptorof his time.

-Bethune, Norman

He who desires and acts not, breeds pestilence.

-Blake,William

Meanwhile, we too admit that the present is an important time† We were wise indeed, could we discern truly the signs of our own time; and by knowledge of its wants and advantages, wiselyadjust our own position in it.

-Carlyle,Thomas

present quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"present." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/present>

APA Style

present. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/present

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