present
Verbpresents, presenting, presented
Noun pluralpresents
Formspresents, presenting, presented
Pluralpresents
- 1Existing or happening now; relating to the current time.
The present government has promised to lower taxes.
In its present condition, the building is unsafe to enter.
UsageBefore the noun (the present government), and in to the present day; after a noun, present means there instead.
Similarcurrent, existing, present-day, contemporary, incumbent
- 2Being in a particular place; located in the immediate vicinity.
All the board members were present for the vote.
A police officer was present throughout the event.
UsageAfter a noun or verb: the members were present, a doctor present; present at a meeting or event.
Similarhere (entry), around
Note
Position does the work in this sense. Put it before the noun and it drifts toward the 'current' meaning. 'Only half of all present members were present at the meeting' plays the two against each other: of the current members, only half turned up.
- 3Saypri-ZENT/pɹiˈzɛnt/UK/pɹɪˈzɛnt/To put something forward so that it can be seen; to show or exhibit it.
The museum will present its new collection next month.
She presented the findings on a large screen.
UsageOften present something to people: present her drawings to the class.
Similarshow, exhibit, display, showcase, unveil
Note
This sense stretches across registers, from a museum presenting its collection to the sports field. The NFL rulebook of 2020 requires an offense to present a legal formation before and after a shift, so that the formation is put forward to be seen and judged by the officials.
- 4A gift, especially one given to mark a birthday, holiday, anniversary, wedding, or similar special occasion.
They chose a thoughtful present for their parents' anniversary.
The children unwrapped their presents on Christmas morning.
UsageUsually a present for someone; you give, get or unwrap a present: a birthday present.
- 5Saypri-ZENT/pɹiˈzɛnt/UK/pɹɪˈzɛnt/To put forward an idea, plan, argument, or set of options so that others can consider it.
The researchers present their findings at the annual conference each spring.
He presented a compelling argument for changing the policy.
UsageOften present something to someone: present a plan to the board; researchers present at a conference.
Similarput forward, propose, offer
- 6The current moment or period of time, as distinct from the past and the future.
She has learned to live in the present rather than dwelling on old regrets.
At present, the company employs over two hundred people.
UsageUsually the present, as in for the present (for now), though at present (now) takes no article.
- 7Saypri-ZENT/pɹiˈzɛnt/UK/pɹɪˈzɛnt/To put on or stage a play, show, or other performance.
The theater company presents a Shakespeare festival every summer.
The festival will present three new works by local writers.
UsageOften in announcements: proudly presents, is proud to present; the subject is usually the company or venue.
Similarstage, mount, produce, perform, feature
Note
Stage and put on name the practical work of mounting a show, while present is also the word of the announcement itself, heard in billing lines such as "the theater proudly presents."
- 8Saypri-ZENT/pɹiˈzɛnt/UK/pɹɪˈzɛnt/To give someone a gift, prize, award, or honor, often formally or at a ceremony.
The president presented the astronauts with medals of honor.
They will present the volunteers with certificates of thanks.
Usagepresent someone with something (presented her with flowers) or present something to someone (present the medal to her).
- 9Referring to the particular matter or case under discussion in the immediate context.
For the present purpose, a rough estimate will do.
The present author disagrees with that conclusion.
UsageUsually in academic or official writing: the present study, and the present author meaning I.
Similarcurrent
- 10Saypri-ZENT/pɹiˈzɛnt/UK/pɹɪˈzɛnt/To act as the presenter or host of a radio or television program.
She presents a weekly science program on public radio.
They asked him to present the awards ceremony live.
UsageThe person who does this is the presenter; host is a close word.
- 11Saypri-ZENT/pɹiˈzɛnt/UK/pɹɪˈzɛnt/To bring a problem, complaint, or matter before a court or other authority for consideration.
The attorney presented the petition to the appeals court.
Residents will present their grievances to the board next week.
UsageUsually present something to a court, board or council.
Similarsubmit, lodge, file, bring
Oppositewithdraw
- 12To give rise to or be the origin of something, typically a difficulty, a hazard, a challenge or an opportunity.
Rising sea levels present a serious problem for low-lying coastal towns.
The merger presented an opportunity to cut costs across both companies.
UsageUsually a problem, risk, challenge or chance as object; the person affected takes with: presented the builders with a problem.
Similarpose, offer, create, provide
Note
Here the subject is a situation or a thing, not a person handing something over: a steep road presents a danger, a vacancy presents an opportunity. It reads as a figurative cousin of the giving meaning, as if circumstances were handing someone a difficulty.
- 13To represent someone or something in a particular light, attributing a certain nature or quality, often with as before the description.
The company's ads present its trucks as the toughest on the market.
Early biographies presented the general in a flattering light and glossed over his defeats.
UsageUsually present someone as something, or in a good or poor light: presents the king as fair.
Less common meanings
- 14The verb tense used mainly for actions or states occurring now, and also for habits and general truths.
This passage shifts from the past into the present for dramatic effect.
Teachers often introduce the present before other tenses.
UsageUsually the present or the present tense: put the verb in the present.
Note
Despite the name, the tense covers more than the moment of speaking: ongoing states, habitual actions and general truths all take it. Keep it apart from the present as a time. One is a stretch of time; the other is a form of the verb.
- 15Mentally attentive and focused on what is happening in the moment.
Try to remain present instead of worrying about tomorrow.
He seemed fully present, hanging on every word she said.
UsageUsually after be, stay or feel, often with fully: stay present, fully present.
Similarmindful, attentive, focused, engaged, alert
Oppositedistracted, preoccupied, absentminded
- 16Saypri-ZENT/pɹiˈzɛnt/UK/pɹɪˈzɛnt/To come to the attention of medical staff, typically with a particular symptom.
Patients often present with fatigue before any other symptom appears.
The child presented with a rash that spread quickly.
Usagepresent with a symptom (the child presented with a rash), or the symptom itself presents; mostly in medical writing.
- 17
- 18Saypri-ZENT/pɹiˈzɛnt/UK/pɹɪˈzɛnt/To report or appear at a place or before a person, especially in a formal setting such as a tribunal.
Candidates must present in person at the examination center.
Witnesses are asked to present themselves at the clerk's office by nine o'clock, when the tribunal begins its first hearing of the day.
UsageUsually present yourself at a place (present themselves at the gate), or present in person.
Note
The classic form is reflexive. The King James Bible of 1611 has the sons of God come 'to present themselves before the Lord'.
- 19Saypri-ZENT/pɹiˈzɛnt/UK/pɹɪˈzɛnt/To bring a person before someone else and introduce them, usually with some ceremony.
The debutantes were presented to high society at the annual ball.
He stepped forward to present his colleague to the director.
UsageOften present someone to someone, and often passive: she was presented to the committee.
Similarintroduce
- 20Saypri-ZENT/pɹiˈzɛnt/UK/pɹɪˈzɛnt/To offer itself for someone's consideration, or to occur to the mind.
An opportunity presented itself during the negotiations.
Several objections present themselves the moment you read the proposal.
UsageAlmost always present itself or present themselves, with an idea or chance as the subject: an opportunity presented itself.
- 21Saypri-ZENT/pɹiˈzɛnt/UK/pɹɪˈzɛnt/To convey a particular gender through one's appearance or behavior.
Many nonbinary people present differently depending on the social setting.
She presents as masculine but uses she/her pronouns.
UsageUsually present as + a gender or adjective: presents as masculine.
Note
It describes how a person appears or is read by others, which may change with the setting and need not match identity. Writing on trans lives uses it to separate outward presentation from who someone is. The same as-pattern turns up in the omegaverse sense.
- 22Registering neither support nor opposition in a vote, used to formally abstain while still being counted.
Several council members voted present to signal their neutrality.
Rather than vote against her own party, the council member voted present, which counted her for the quorum but put her on record as taking no side.
UsageMostly in vote present, where present stands in place of yes or no.
Note
Voting present is a legislative way of being counted without taking a side. The member answers the roll, so attendance is recorded, but the vote goes neither for nor against the motion. It is a recorded abstention, not a silent one.
- 23A jokey, polite word for feces, especially a mess left by an animal.
The puppy left a smelly present on the new rug, so out came the paper towels and the spray cleaner.
Somebody's dog had left a present on the sidewalk, and I stepped right in it on my way to work.
UsageOften leave a present, usually a little present: the dog left us a present.
- 24Saypri-ZENT/pɹiˈzɛnt/UK/pɹɪˈzɛnt/To aim a gun at a target, or bring a weapon up into the firing position.
He presented his musket at the advancing line.
As the enemy line came into range, the officer shouted for the front rank to present, and a row of muskets rose to the shoulder.
Similaraim, level, point, train
Oppositelower
Note
Aiming is the point here, often with at, as in he presented his musket at the advancing line. Do not confuse it with the drill position of presenting arms, where the weapon is held upright as a salute and pointed at no one. One readies the weapon to fire, the other is a courtesy.
- 25Saypri-ZENT/pɹiˈzɛnt/UK/pɹɪˈzɛnt/Of a fetus, to appear in a particular position for delivery, with a given part appearing first at the mouth of the uterus.
When a fetus presents breech, clinicians weigh the risks of vaginal delivery.
Most babies present head down by the final weeks of pregnancy.
Note
Obstetrics turns the clinical verb onto the fetus. The subject is the baby, and the complement names the part or position that comes first: presents breech, presents head down. Unlike the symptom sense, nothing is being brought to a doctor. The verb describes which part of the fetus lies nearest the birth canal, late in pregnancy or during labor.
- 26Saypri-ZENT/pɹiˈzɛnt/UK/pɹɪˈzɛnt/To accuse a person of an offense and have them answer for it before a court.
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’.
1971, Sir Keith Vivian Thomas, “3. The Impact of the Reformation”Note
An old legal use, rare today, in which the person is the object and the fault follows with for. Someone is presented for saying or doing something, usually in the passive. Keith Thomas records that in the diocese of Gloucester in 1548 two inhabitants of Slimbridge were presented for calling holy oil fit only to grease sheep. Use it when writing about legal history, not about modern courts.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Keith Thomas records that two Slimbridge inhabitants in the diocese of Gloucester were presented in 1548 for saying holy oil was fit only to grease sheep. lib.wildla.in
- 27Ready to act and quick-thinking in a sudden emergency.
Note
An older, now dated use in which the mind is present at the moment it is needed. It survives best in a phrase like a present wit, meaning a wit that answers at once under pressure. Modern readers can easily take it as 'current', so quick-witted or ready is the safer choice outside deliberate period style.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Present has a dated sense meaning ready or quick in an emergency, illustrated by a present wit. en.wiktionary.org
- 28The fixed position a soldier holds while presenting arms as a salute.
- 29To nominate a member of the clergy for a church benefice by offering them to the bishop as a candidate for the post.
- 30In omegaverse fan fiction, to show signs of one's secondary sex, whether alpha, beta, or omega, usually around puberty.
- 31Of a medicine or poison, taking effect at once.
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.
1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Alteratiues and Corials, corroborating, reſoluing the reliques, and mending the… - 32Happening without delay, done right away.
Sign me a present pardon for my brother,
c. 1603, William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure” - 33Attentive and kindly disposed, ready to help, as a god heeding prayers.
to find a god so present to my prayer
1697, Virgil, “Pastoral 1” - 34Of a female animal, to adopt a posture exposing the genital area as a sign she is ready to mate, as in lordosis.
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Practice
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Origins
Latin praeesse ("to be present"), made of prae- ("pre-") and esse ("to be"), has the present participle praesens, praesent-, which passed through Old French present into Middle English present.
Latin praesentāre ("to show"), built on praesens, praesent-, the present participle of praeesse ("be in front of"), passed through Old French presenter into Middle English presenten.