present 1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈpre-zᵊnt How to pronounce present (audio)
Definition of presentnext
as in gift
something given to someone without expectation of a return an impressive array of presents for the bride and groom

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

present

2 of 4

noun (2)

ˈpre-zᵊnt How to pronounce present (audio)
as in today
the time currently existing or in progress I cannot talk to you at present, but perhaps in a few minutes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

present

3 of 4

adjective

ˈpre-zᵊnt How to pronounce present (audio)
1
as in current
existing or in progress right now I am very busy at the present moment

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2
as in attending
being within the confines of a specified place all of you are required to be present for every meeting

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present

4 of 4

verb

pri-ˈzent How to pronounce present (audio)
1
as in to offer
to bring before the public in performance or exhibition we will present a performance of Our Town tomorrow evening

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2
as in to introduce
to make (one person) known (to another) socially may I present my niece Sarah?

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to donate
to make a present of the company presented a gold watch to him on the occasion of his retirement

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb present contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of present are afford, bestow, confer, donate, and give. While all these words mean "to convey to another as a possession," present carries a note of formality and ceremony.

present an award

In what contexts can afford take the place of present?

The words afford and present are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver.

the trees afford shade
a development that affords us some hope

When might bestow be a better fit than present?

While in some cases nearly identical to present, bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver.

bestow unwanted advice

When is it sensible to use confer instead of present?

In some situations, the words confer and present are roughly equivalent. However, confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor).

confer an honorary degree

Where would donate be a reasonable alternative to present?

The synonyms donate and present are sometimes interchangeable, but donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity).

donate a piano to the orphanage

When could give be used to replace present?

While the synonyms give and present are close in meaning, give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means.

give alms
gave her a ride on a pony
give my love to your mother

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of present
Noun
Bain and eBay’s data shows that, at present, consumers actually reap about two-thirds of the value DPPs offer today. —Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 17 July 2025 Plus, having our father present made this even more important. —Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 16 July 2025
Adjective
This is not new territory as the conflicts of interest these billion-dollar media rights deals present already put the network on the side of the leagues. —John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025 The stories are set in present day, each in a different country. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 July 2025
Verb
The Bob Dylan Center and New York University (NYU) will present the exhibition, an adaptation of an existing feature at the Center, from Aug. 15 through Oct. 15 at NYU’s Gallatin Galleries. —Andrew Flanagan, Variety, 23 July 2025 Palm trees act as a privacy buffer at the front of the double-gated home, while four rows of vertical wooden beams, presented to dramatic effect by golden uplighting, make a bold first impression from the driveway. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 23 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for present
Recent Examples of Synonyms for present
  1. current
  2. offer
  3. introduce
  4. donate
  5. ongoing
  6. available
  7. give
  8. volunteer
Adjective
  • The county and the Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to work toward a new 11-year lease agreement instead of extending the current lease for Paycor Stadium, which was signed in 1997 and has long been criticized by taxpayers.
    — Erin Glynn, The Enquirer, 25 July 2025
  • The Outlet Fire in 2000, a prescribed burn that ran out of control, left a wall of aspen to the east that proved a partial barrier to the current fire.
    — Tom Zoellner, AZCentral.com, 25 July 2025
Definition of current
Verb
  • The new flight offers Florida travelers an alternative to the drive, which can take more than 4 hours (without accounting for potential traffic during peak tourism days).
    — Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2025
  • Full table service is offered in broad dining rooms with sturdy chairs and vinyl tablecloths.
    — Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 23 July 2025
Definition of offer
Verb
  • While the duo filmed their scenes for the movie over the course of a month, there were a few days when one of the pair wasn’t working — and the generous parents didn’t miss out on the chance to bring baby Crew along to the set and even to introduce him to Sandler himself.
    — Luke Chinman, People.com, 25 July 2025
  • And Lee and Kirby continued to crank out their stories, introducing characters as varied and memorable as the Black Panther, Dr. Doom, Nick Fury, and Thor.
    — Oliver Staley, Time, 25 July 2025
Definition of introduce
Verb
  • Last year, her foundation donated 5,000 books to 600 students at a Houston-area elementary school.
    — Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 26 July 2025
  • The hobbyist, Glenn Manning, reported his finds to the government, and they were subsequently donated to the local Corinium Museum in Cirencester.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2025
Definition of donate
Adjective
  • See a healthcare provider if puffiness is ongoing, bothersome, or comes with other symptoms.
    — Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 14 July 2025
  • The jury was shown transcripts of angry emails and text messages between Serafini and his wife’s parents showing a heated, ongoing dispute over a $1.3 million loan from his in-laws to help fund his wife’s fledgling horse ranch business.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2025
Definition of ongoing
Adjective
  • Pink Floyd Claims 10% of the Chart The band fills four spaces on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart this frame, claiming 10% of all available real estate.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Anthropic said many of these integrations are available on Tuesday, with more to come.
    — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 15 July 2025
Definition of available
Verb
  • Samsung has given Harman access to a wide array of technologies beyond traditional audio, including instrument panels and driver monitoring.
    — Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 27 July 2025
  • His cameo in Rocky III gave wrestling mainstream attention, along with his cartoon called Hulk Hogan’s Rock 'n’ Wrestling, which was broadcast on Saturday mornings in the mid-1980s.
    — Mark LaSota, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025
Definition of give
Verb
  • Ader, who began volunteering nine years ago, started by donating items and later decided to become more hands-on.
    — Ava Nightingale, Freep.com, 18 July 2025
  • If folks will volunteer, it can be composed of two- or three-member teams of neighbors patrolling, if possible, at the approximate times these crimes are occurring.
    — Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2025
Definition of volunteer

Phrases Containing present

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presences
present
presentable
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Cite this Entry

“Present.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/present. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on present

Nglish: Translation of present for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about present

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