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present

Other forms: presented; presents; presenting

The word present has multiple meanings, most of which concern giving (a present is a gift) or time (the present is right now).

The verb present might mean to deliver something like a speech, or perform something like a play. On formal occasions, when we present someone, we introduce them, usually to a group or to the public. Present might also mean "to submit" or "hand over." In grammar, the present tense expresses actions or states occurring at the time we're speaking of them, that is to say, at this moment.

Definitions of present
  1. adjective
    temporal sense; intermediate between past and future; now existing or happening or in consideration
    “the present leader”
    “articles for present use”
    “the present topic”
    “the present system”
    present observations”
    Synonyms:
    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
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    Antonyms:
    past
    earlier than the present time; no longer current
    future
    yet to be or coming
    noncurrent
    not current or belonging to the present time
    incoming
    arriving at a place or position
    outgoing
    leaving a place or a position
    old
    of long duration; not new
    ago, agone
    gone by; or in the past
    ancient
    belonging to times long past especially of the historical period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire
    bygone, bypast, departed, foregone, gone
    well in the past; former
    chivalric, knightly, medieval
    characteristic of the time of chivalry and knighthood in the Middle Ages
    early, former, other
    belonging to the distant past
    erstwhile, former, old, one-time, onetime, quondam, sometime
    belonging to some prior time
    former, late, previous
    (used especially of persons) of the immediate past
    historic, historical
    belonging to the past; of what is important or famous in the past
    last
    immediately past
    late, recent
    of the immediate past or just previous to the present time
    olden
    long past
    other
    recently past
    prehistoric, prehistorical
    belonging to or existing in times before recorded history
    then
    at a specific prior time
    ult, ultimo
    in or of the month preceding the present one
    approaching, coming, forthcoming, upcoming
    of the relatively near future
    future day
    yet to come
    early
    expected in the near future
    emerging, rising
    coming to maturity
    in store
    in readiness; awaiting
    prox, proximo
    in or of the next month after the present
    prospective
    of or concerned with or related to the future
    show more antonyms...
  2. noun
    the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
    “that is enough for the present
    “he lives in the present with no thought of tomorrow”
    synonyms: nowadays
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    types:
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    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
    type of:
    time
    the continuum of experience in which events pass from the future through the present to the past
  3. noun
    a verb tense that expresses actions or states at the time of speaking
    synonyms: present tense
    see moresee less
    types:
    historical present
    the use of the present tense to describe past actions or states
    type of:
    tense
    a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
  4. adjective
    being or existing in a specified place
    “the murderer is present in this room”
    present at the wedding”
    present at the creation”
    Synonyms:
    attendant
    being present (at meeting or event etc.) "attendant members of the congreation"
    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
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    absent
    not being in a specified place
    away
    not present; having left
    introuvable
    impossible to find
    awol, truant
    absent without permission
    show more antonyms...
  5. noun
    something presented as a gift
    “his tie was a present from his wife”
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    types:
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    birthday gift, birthday present
    a present given in celebration of a person's birthday
    Christmas gift, Christmas present
    a present given at Christmas time
    wedding gift, wedding present
    a present given to someone getting married
    stocking filler, stocking stuffer
    a small Christmas present included in the Christmas stocking
    bride-gift
    a wedding present to the bride
    type of:
    gift
    something acquired without compensation
Definitions of present
  1. verb
    hand over formally
    synonyms: submit
    see moresee less
    types:
    bring in
    submit (a verdict) to a court
    type of:
    give
    transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody
  2. verb
    give as a present; make a gift of
    synonyms: gift, give
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    types:
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    dower, endow
    furnish with an endowment
    distribute, give out, hand out, pass out
    give to several people
    give away
    make a gift of
    raffle, raffle off
    dispose of in a lottery
    bung, fee, tip
    give a tip or gratuity to in return for a service, beyond the compensation agreed on
    bequeath, leave, will
    leave or give by will after one's death
    cede, deliver, give up, surrender
    relinquish possession or control over
    deed over, grant
    transfer by deed
    treat
    provide with a gift or entertainment
    donate
    give to a charity or good cause
    tender
    offer or present for acceptance
    render, submit
    make over as a return
    benefice
    endow with a benefice
    devise
    give by will, especially real property
    pass on
    give to or transfer possession of
    yield up
    surrender, as a result of pressure or force
    sell
    give up for a price or reward
    apportion, deal, divvy up, portion out, share
    give out as one's portion or share
    pledge, subscribe
    pay (an amount of money) as a contribution to a charity or service, especially at regular intervals
    sign away, sign over
    formally assign ownership of
    remember
    show appreciation to
    entail, fee-tail
    limit the inheritance of property to a specific class of heirs
  3. verb
    give, especially as an honor or reward
    synonyms: award
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    types:
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    certificate
    present someone with a certificate
    bestow, confer
    present
    miter
    confer a miter on (a bishop)
    bless
    confer prosperity or happiness on
    graduate
    confer an academic degree upon
    type of:
    allocate, apportion
    distribute according to a plan or set apart for a special purpose
  4. verb
    present somebody with something, usually to accuse or criticize
    synonyms: confront, face
    confront, face, face up
    deal with (something unpleasant) head on
  5. verb
    introduce
    synonyms: pose
    see moresee less
    type of:
    be, comprise, constitute, make up, represent
    form or compose
  6. verb
    cause to come to know personally
    synonyms: acquaint, introduce
    acquaint, familiarise, familiarize
    make familiar or conversant with
    see moresee less
    types:
    re-introduce, reintroduce
    introduce anew
    bring out, introduce
    bring before the public for the first time, as of an actor, song, etc.
    type of:
    inform
    impart knowledge of some fact, state or affairs, or event to
  7. verb
    formally present a debutante, a representative of a country, etc.
    see moresee less
    type of:
    acquaint, introduce
    cause to come to know personally
  8. verb
    give an exhibition of to an interested audience
    synonyms: demo, demonstrate, exhibit, show
    see moresee less
    types:
    bring home
    make understandable and clear
    curate
    select and present content or information
    type of:
    show
    make visible or noticeable
  9. verb
    deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
    “The commencement speaker presented a forceful speech that impressed the students”
    synonyms: deliver
    see moresee less
    types:
    orate, speechify
    make speeches; hold forth, or harangue with a certain degree of formality
    type of:
    mouth, speak, talk, utter, verbalise, verbalize
    express in speech
  10. verb
    perform (a play), especially on a stage
    synonyms: represent, stage
    see moresee less
    types:
    localise, localize, place, set
    locate
    type of:
    re-create
    create anew
  11. verb
    bring forward and present to the mind
    “We presented the arguments to him”
    synonyms: lay out, represent
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    types:
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    argue, reason
    present reasons and arguments
    argue, indicate
    give evidence of
    spin
    twist and turn so as to give an intended interpretation
    re-argue
    argue again
    expostulate
    reason with (somebody) for the purpose of dissuasion
    defend, fend for, support
    argue or speak in defense of
    sugarcoat
    cause to appear more pleasant or appealing
    type of:
    say, state, tell
    express in words
  12. verb
    represent abstractly, for example in a painting, drawing, or sculpture
    synonyms: portray
    see moresee less
    types:
    commend
    present as worthy of regard, kindness, or confidence
    type of:
    interpret, represent
    create an image or likeness of
  13. verb
    recognize with a gesture prescribed by a military regulation; assume a prescribed position
    synonyms: salute
    see moresee less
    type of:
    greet, recognise, recognize
    express greetings upon meeting someone
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