PRESENT

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does present mean? 

• PRESENT (noun)
  The noun PRESENT has 3 senses:

1. the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech

2. something presented as a gift

3. a verb tense that expresses actions or states at the time of speaking

  Familiarity information: PRESENT used as a noun is uncommon.

• PRESENT (adjective)
  The adjective PRESENT has 2 senses:

1. temporal sense; intermediate between past and future; now existing or happening or in consideration

2. being or existing in a specified place

  Familiarity information: PRESENT used as an adjective is rare.

• PRESENT (verb)
  The verb PRESENT has 13 senses:

1. give an exhibition of to an interested audience

2. bring forward and present to the mind

3. perform (a play), especially on a stage

4. hand over formally

5. introduce

6. give, especially as an honor or reward

7. give as a present; make a gift of

8. deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)

9. cause to come to know personally

10. represent abstractly, for example in a painting, drawing, or sculpture

11. present somebody with something, usually to accuse or criticize

12. formally present a debutante, a representative of a country, etc.

13. recognize with a gesture prescribed by a military regulation; assume a prescribed position

  Familiarity information: PRESENT used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PRESENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

nowadays; present

Context example:

he lives in the present with no thought of tomorrow

Hypernyms ("present" is a kind of...):

time (the continuum of experience in which events pass from the future through the present to the past)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "present"):

now (the momentary present)

here and now; moment; present moment (at this time)

date (the present)

nonce; time being (the present occasion)

today (the present time or age)

tonight (the present or immediately coming night)

Derivation:

present (temporal sense; intermediate between past and future; now existing or happening or in consideration)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Something presented as a gift

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Context example:

his tie was a present from his wife

Hypernyms ("present" is a kind of...):

gift (something acquired without compensation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "present"):

birthday gift; birthday present (a present given in celebration of a person's birthday)

wedding gift; wedding present (a present given to someone getting married)

Christmas gift; Christmas present (a present given at Christmas time)

Derivation:

present (hand over formally)

present (being or existing in a specified place)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A verb tense that expresses actions or states at the time of speaking

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

present; present tense

Hypernyms ("present" is a kind of...):

tense (a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "present"):

historical present (the use of the present tense to describe past actions or states)

Derivation:

present (temporal sense; intermediate between past and future; now existing or happening or in consideration)

• PRESENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Temporal sense; intermediate between past and future; now existing or happening or in consideration

Context example:

present observations

Similar:

existing (presently existing)

immediate (of the present time and place)

inst; instant (in or of the present month)

latter-day (belonging to the present or recent times)

Attribute:

timing (the time when something happens)

Antonym:

future (yet to be or coming)

past (earlier than the present time; no longer current)

Derivation:

present (a verb tense that expresses actions or states at the time of speaking)

presentness (the quality of being the present)

present (the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Being or existing in a specified place

Context example:

present at the creation

Similar:

attendant (being present (at a meeting or event, etc.))

ever-present (being always present)

existing (existing in something specified)

here (being here now)

naturally occurring (existing by nature and without artificial aid)

omnipresent; ubiquitous (being present everywhere at once)

Attribute:

presence (the state of being present; current existence)

Antonym:

absent (not being in a specified place)

Derivation:

presence (the act of being present)

presence (the impression that something is present)

presence (the immediate proximity of someone or something)

presence (the state of being present; current existence)

present (something presented as a gift)

• PRESENT (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give an exhibition of to an interested audience

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

demo; demonstrate; exhibit; present; show

Context example:

We will demo the new software in Washington

Hypernyms (to "present" is one way to...):

show (make visible or noticeable)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "present"):

bring home (make understandable and clear)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s somebody with something

Derivation:

presentment (a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view)

presentation (the act of presenting a proposal)

presentation (a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view)

presentation (the act of making something publicly available; presenting news or other information by broadcasting or printing it)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Bring forward and present to the mind

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

lay out; present; represent

Context example:

We cannot represent this knowledge to our formal reason

Hypernyms (to "present" is one way to...):

say; state; tell (express in words)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "present"):

argue; reason (present reasons and arguments)

argue; indicate (give evidence of)

spin (twist and turn so as to give an intended interpretation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

Derivation:

presentation (the act of making something publicly available; presenting news or other information by broadcasting or printing it)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Perform (a play), especially on a stage

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

present; represent; stage

Context example:

we are going to stage 'Othello'

Hypernyms (to "present" is one way to...):

re-create (create anew)

Domain category:

performing arts (arts or skills that require public performance)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "present"):

localise; localize; place; set (locate)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Did he present his major works over a short period of time?

Derivation:

presentment (a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Hand over formally

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

present; submit

Hypernyms (to "present" is one way to...):

give (transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "present"):

bring in (submit (a verdict) to a court)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s somebody with something

Derivation:

present (something presented as a gift)

presentation (the activity of formally presenting something (as a prize or reward))

presenter (someone who presents a message of some sort (as a petition or an address or a check or a memorial etc.))

Sense 5

Meaning:

Introduce

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

pose; present

Context example:

This poses an interesting question

Hypernyms (to "present" is one way to...):

be; comprise; constitute; make up; represent (form or compose)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Give, especially as an honor or reward

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

award; present

Context example:

bestow honors and prizes at graduation

Hypernyms (to "present" is one way to...):

allocate; apportion (distribute according to a plan or set apart for a special purpose)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "present"):

certificate (present someone with a certificate)

bestow; confer (present)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

Derivation:

presentation (the activity of formally presenting something (as a prize or reward))

Sense 7

Meaning:

Give as a present; make a gift of

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

gift; give; present

Context example:

What will you give her for her birthday?

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "present"):

regift (give a present that one has received to someone else)

render; submit (make over as a return)

tender (offer or present for acceptance)

donate (give to a charity or good cause)

treat (provide with a gift or entertainment)

deed over; grant (transfer by deed)

cede; deliver; give up; surrender (relinquish possession or control over)

bequeath; leave; will (leave or give by will after one's death)

bung; fee; tip (give a tip or gratuity to in return for a service, beyond the compensation agreed on)

raffle; raffle off (dispose of in a lottery)

give away (make a gift of)

distribute; give out; hand out; pass out (give to several people)

dower; endow (furnish with an endowment)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

Derivation:

presenter (person who makes a gift of property)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

deliver; present

Context example:

The commencement speaker presented a forceful speech that impressed the students

Hypernyms (to "present" is one way to...):

mouth; speak; talk; utter; verbalise; verbalize (express in speech)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "present"):

speechify (make speeches; hold forth, or harangue with a certain degree of formality)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

presentation (the act of making something publicly available; presenting news or other information by broadcasting or printing it)

presentation (the act of presenting a proposal)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Cause to come to know personally

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

acquaint; introduce; present

Context example:

introduce the new neighbors to the community

Hypernyms (to "present" is one way to...):

inform (impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to)

Verb group:

acquaint; familiarise; familiarize (make familiar or conversant with)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "present"):

re-introduce; reintroduce (introduce anew)

present (formally present a debutante, a representative of a country, etc.)

bring out; introduce (bring before the public for the first time, as of an actor, song, etc.)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

presentation (formally making a person known to another or to the public)

presenter (an advocate who presents a person (as for an award or a degree or an introduction etc.))

Sense 10

Meaning:

Represent abstractly, for example in a painting, drawing, or sculpture

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

portray; present

Context example:

The father is portrayed as a good-looking man in this painting

Hypernyms (to "present" is one way to...):

interpret; represent (create an image or likeness of)

Domain category:

art; artistic creation; artistic production (the creation of beautiful or significant things)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "present"):

commend (present as worthy of regard, kindness, or confidence)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

presentation (a visual representation of something)

presentment (a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view)

Sense 11

Meaning:

Present somebody with something, usually to accuse or criticize

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

confront; face; present

Context example:

An enormous dilemma faces us

Verb group:

confront; face; face up (deal with (something unpleasant) head on)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody with something

Sense 12

Meaning:

Formally present a debutante, a representative of a country, etc.

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "present" is one way to...):

acquaint; introduce; present (cause to come to know personally)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

presentation (formally making a person known to another or to the public)

Sense 13

Meaning:

Recognize with a gesture prescribed by a military regulation; assume a prescribed position

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

present; salute

Context example:

When the officers show up, the soldiers have to salute

Hypernyms (to "present" is one way to...):

greet; recognise; recognize (express greetings upon meeting someone)

"Present" entails doing...:

gesticulate; gesture; motion (show, express or direct through movement)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

 Context examples 

In his speaking of things and people, and especially of battles, he spoke as if he had been present at them all.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Then the hope died down as he added, shaking his head, "We've had him two weeks now, and if anything he's wilder than ever at the present moment."

(White Fang, by Jack London)

When it became known that the old fox was dead, suitors presented themselves.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

The determination of the ratio of metamyelocytes compared to total cells present in a sample.

(Metamyelocyte to Total Cell Ratio Measurement, NCI Thesaurus)

The past suspense of the morning had been ease and quiet to the present disappointment.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I make you a free present of it.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The black hole was already billions of times the mass of our sun when our universe was only a tenth of its present age of 13.8 billion years.

(The Most Luminous Galaxy in Universe, NASA)

“Three hundred, and a present at that,” was the prompt reply of the man in the red sweater.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

The determination of the number of metamyelocytes present in a sample.

(Metamyelocyte Count, NCI Thesaurus)

That makes sense—the end of the year is a time most people buy presents to give family and friends at holiday time.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)