present
present
Pronunciation
IPA: /ˈprɛz.ənt/
First syllable: /prɛz/
/p/ as in "pen" (voiceless bilabial plosive)
/r/ as in "red" (voiced alveolar approximant)
/ɛ/ as in "bed" (open-mid front unrounded vowel)
/z/ as in "zoo" (voiced alveolar fricative)
Second syllable: /ənt/
/ə/ as in "about" (schwa, unstressed central vowel)
/n/ as in "no" (voiced alveolar nasal)
/t/ as in "top" (voiceless alveolar plosive)
As a Verb (meaning "to give" or "to show")
IPA: /prɪˈzɛnt/ (or /prəˈzɛnt/ in some American English dialects)
First syllable: /prɪ/ or /prə/
/p/ as in "pen" (voiceless bilabial plosive)
/r/ as in "red" (voiced alveolar approximant)
/ɪ/ as in "sit" (near-close near-front unrounded vowel) or /ə/ (schwa)
Second syllable: /zɛnt/
/z/ as in "zoo" (voiced alveolar fricative)
/ɛ/ as in "bed" (open-mid front unrounded vowel)
/n/ as in "no" (voiced alveolar nasal)
/t/ as in "top" (voiceless alveolar plosive)
Word Form Variations
As a Noun
When "present" refers to a gift or the current time:
Singular: present (e.g., "She received a beautiful present.")
Plural: presents (e.g., "They exchanged many presents.")
When referring to the current time:
Singular: the present (e.g., "Live in the present.")
Plural: (not typically used in this sense)
As a Verb
When "present" means to give, show, or introduce:
Base Form/Infinitive: to present (e.g., "I want to present my findings.")
Present Simple:
I/you/we/they present (e.g., "They present new ideas regularly.")
He/she/it presents (e.g., "She presents her work tomorrow.")
Present Participle: presenting (e.g., "He is presenting his research.")
Past Simple: presented (e.g., "She presented the award to him.")
Past Participle: presented (e.g., "The report was presented yesterday.")
Other verb forms (tenses):
Present Continuous: am/is/are presenting
Past Continuous: was/were presenting
Present Perfect: have/has presented
Past Perfect: had presented
Future Simple: will present
Future Continuous: will be presenting
Future Perfect: will have presented
Conditional: would present
Conditional Perfect: would have presented
Imperative: present (e.g., "Present your identification.")
As an Adjective
When "present" means existing or happening now, or being in a particular place:
Base Form: present (e.g., "the present situation," "Is everyone present?")
Comparative: more present (less common, often implies a greater degree of being aware or attentive)
Superlative: most present (less common, for similar reasons as above)
Derived Forms:
Adverb: presently (meaning "soon" or "currently," e.g., "He will arrive presently.")
Noun (derived from adjective): presentness (referring to the state of being present, often in a philosophical or mindful sense)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Present (Noun)
Definition 1 (A Gift): An item or sum of money voluntarily given to someone without expectation of payment, typically on a special occasion or as an expression of affection, gratitude, or goodwill.
Synonyms: gift, offering, donation, boon, gratuity, keepsake
Antonyms: penalty, fine, debt, forfeiture
Definition 2 (The Current Time): The period of time that is happening now; the immediate moment or the current state of affairs, contrasting with the past and the future.
Synonyms: now, today, here and now, the moment, the instant
Antonyms: past, future, history, bygone, yesteryear
Present (Verb)
Definition 1 (To Give/Hand Over): To formally give, hand over, or submit something to someone, often in a ceremonial, official, or public manner.
Synonyms: offer, give, bestow, confer, grant, award, submit, hand over
Antonyms: withhold, retain, withdraw, take, seize
Definition 2 (To Show/Exhibit): To make something visible, known, or understood; to display, demonstrate, or bring to the attention of others, often for consideration or evaluation.
Synonyms: display, exhibit, show, demonstrate, reveal, expose, manifest, set forth, put forward
Antonyms: conceal, hide, obscure, withhold, suppress
Definition 3 (To Introduce/Formally Announce): To introduce a person, especially to an audience or group, or to formally announce or bring forward a new idea, product, or performance.
Synonyms: introduce, unveil, launch, debut, put on, stage, perform
Antonyms: withdraw, retract, cancel, conclude (a performance)
Definition 4 (To Occur/Appear - often reflexive): (Often used reflexively as "present itself") To emerge, appear, or become available or evident, usually unexpectedly or as part of a natural process.
Synonyms: appear, arise, occur, materialize, show up, surface
Antonyms: disappear, vanish, recede, withdraw
Present (Adjective)
Definition 1 (Being Here/In Attendance): Being in a particular place at a given time; physically located or in attendance.
Synonyms: here, in attendance, at hand, available, on-site, nearby
Antonyms: absent, away, missing, gone, elsewhere, not here
Definition 2 (Current/Existing Now): Existing, occurring, or happening at the current time; not belonging to the past or future.
Synonyms: current, existing, prevailing, ongoing, contemporary, immediate
Antonyms: past, future, former, bygone, historical, forthcoming
Presently (Adverb)
Definition 1 (Soon/In a Short Time): In a short time; soon; at a point very near in the future.
Synonyms: soon, shortly, directly, quickly, imminently, ere long
Antonyms: later, eventually, remotely (in time), never
Definition 2 (Currently/At Present): At this very moment; currently; now. (This usage is becoming less common in some dialects, but is still understood and used.)
Synonyms: currently, now, at present, at this time, nowadays
Antonyms: previously, formerly, in the past, in the future
Examples of Use
Books:
"The past is gone, the future is yet to come, and the only moment we truly have is the present." (Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now, 1997)
"Every family has a secret, and every secret has a key, and sometimes the key is a present wrapped up in a bow." (Jodi Picoult, Change of Heart, 2008)
"But the problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence. And a lot of things happen when you present an empty vessel." (Charles Bukowski, Women, 1978)
Newspapers:
"The government plans to present a new economic recovery package next month." (The New York Times, May 2024)
"All eyes were on the CEO as she stepped forward to present the company's annual report." (The Wall Street Journal, February 2025)
"Local authorities reported that three individuals were present at the scene of the accident." (The Standard, June 2025)
Online Publications:
"Researchers were unable to definitively determine if the chemical was present in the water samples." (ScienceDaily, April 2025)
"The online retailer announced a special promotion for customers who purchase a present for Mother's Day." (TechCrunch, April 2025)
"Users can now present their digital tickets directly from their smartphones at the venue entrance." (Engadget, March 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "I want to show you your future. Your present... and your past." (From the film A Christmas Carol, 1984)
Television Series: "Tonight, we're going to present you with a unique challenge." (From MasterChef, various episodes)
Video Games: "A new quest will present itself to you once you reach the next level." (Common in role-playing games, e.g., The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
Music: "I just want to live in the present, forget about the past." (Lyrics from a popular song)
Podcasts: "Our guest today will present their argument for climate action." (From a climate change discussion podcast)
General Public Discourse:
"Please be present and on time for the meeting tomorrow."
"Did you get a good present for your birthday?"
"I need to present my ID at the security checkpoint."
"The opportunity will present itself when the time is right."
"We should all strive to live more in the present moment."
10 Quotes Using Present
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a present. That is why it is called the present." (Often attributed to Bil Keane or Eleanor Roosevelt)
"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." (Buddha)
"Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present." (Albert Camus, Notebooks 1935-1942)
"You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment." (Henry David Thoreau)
"Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past." (George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four)
"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly." (Siddhārtha Gautama, Buddha)
"Life is available only in the present moment." (Thich Nhat Hanh)
"The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness." (Abraham Maslow)
"The past has no power over the present moment." (Eckhart Tolle)
"If you love someone, the greatest gift you can give them is your presence." (Thich Nhat Hanh)
Etymology
The word "present" has a rich history, and its various meanings all spring from a core idea of "being there" or "being before."
It largely comes from Latin, specifically from the word "praesens" (which means "being present, at hand, in sight"). This Latin word itself is formed from two parts:
"prae-": meaning "before" or "in front of"
"esse": meaning "to be"
So, the very root of "present" carries the sense of "to be before" or "to be in front of something/someone."
This Latin root then made its way into Old French as "present," and from there, it was borrowed into Middle English.
Here's how the different meanings first came about:
As an Adjective (being in a place/time): The earliest uses in English, dating back to around the 14th century, referred to something "being in the same place as someone or something" or "existing at the time." This directly relates to the original Latin sense of "being at hand." So, if you were "present" in a room, you were literally "before" or "at hand" in that location.
As a Verb (to give/show): Around the same time (early 14th century), the verb "to present" emerged. This came from the Latin verb "praesentare," which meant "to place before, show, or exhibit." The idea here is that when you "present" something, you are bringing it before someone's eyes or attention, whether it's a gift, an idea, or even yourself. The meaning of "to give as a gift" grew out of the idea of "bringing something into someone's presence."
As a Noun (a gift): This meaning, referring to a "thing offered or given as a gift," also appeared in English around the 13th century. It's thought to have developed from the Old French use where "present" was used in phrases like "en present" (meaning "in the presence of"), which then evolved to mean something given in someone's presence. So, a gift is something brought into someone's presence and given to them.
As a Noun (the current time): The use of "the present" to mean "the time now passing" also dates back to the 13th century in English. This again ties back to the Latin "praesens" – the time that is "at hand" or "right here, right now."
So, whether we're talking about being physically "present," giving a "present" (a gift), or focusing on "the present" (this moment), all these uses share the fundamental origin of "being before" or "being at hand."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Present
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "present":
At present: Currently; now.
For the present: For now; for the time being.
The present moment: The immediate now; the current time.
In the present: Currently existing or happening.
No time like the present: The best time to do something is now.
To present arms: (Military) A command to hold a rifle vertically in a position of salute.
To present a united front: To appear to be in complete agreement, especially to outsiders.
To present a case: To argue or explain a situation, especially in a legal or formal context.
To present oneself: To appear or show up.
To present an opportunity: For an occasion or chance to arise.
A present from hell: A gift or situation that causes trouble or is very undesirable.
To be present and correct: To be physically present and in proper order or condition.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of present from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
