Definition of 'present'

Word Frequency

     

present existing or happening now

(prezənt)

1. ADJECTIVE [ADJECTIVE noun]

You use present to describe things and people that exist now, rather than those that existed in the past or
those that may exist in the future.

He has brought much of the present crisis on himself. 

...the government's present economic difficulties. 

It has been skilfully renovated by the present owners. 

No statement can be made at the present time. 

Synonyms: current, existing, immediate, contemporary   More Synonyms of present

2. SINGULAR NOUN

The present is the period of time that we are in now and the things that are happening now.

...his struggle to reconcile the past with the present. 

...continuing right up to the present. 

Then her thoughts would switch to the present. 

3. ADJECTIVE [ADJECTIVE noun]

In grammar, the present tenses of a verb are the ones that are used to talk about things
that happen regularly or situations that exist at this time. The simple present tense uses the base form or
the 's' form of a verb, as in 'I play tennis twice a week' and 'She works in a bank'.

4. 
 See at present

5. 

 See the present day

6. 

 See for the present

7. 

 See there's no time like the present

More Synonyms of present

COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

ENGLISH EASY LEARNING GRAMMARThe present simple tenseTypical forms of this

tense are as in: