# present

/ˈpɹɛzənt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/present
Updated: 2026-04-30

## Senses

### 2. the current time

noun · CEFR A2

the time that is happening right now.

For teachers: the period of time now occurring. Singular and usually preceded by the definite article.

- You should focus on the present instead of worrying about the past.
- Historians often struggle to remain objective, as their views are inevitably shaped by the political climate of the present.

### 3. grammar tense

noun · CEFR B1 · Technical

the form of a verb used to describe things happening now.

For teachers: the grammatical category of tense used to express an action or state in the current time.

- In English, we use the present simple to talk about habits.
- The author switches from the past to the present mid-chapter to create a sense of immediate urgency for the reader.

### 4. to show or give

verb · CEFR A2 · Formal

to give something to someone formally, or to show something to an audience.

For teachers: to give, provide, or exhibit something formally. Transitive; requires a direct object.

- The winner was proud when the mayor presented her with the trophy.
- The research team will present their findings to the international committee during the conference in Geneva next month.

Usage: Often takes the pattern 'present something to someone' or 'present someone with something'.

### 5. to introduce

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to formally introduce one person to another.

For teachers: to introduce someone formally to another, especially to a person of higher rank.

- May I present my colleague, Dr. Smith?
- It was a long-standing tradition for young debutantes to be presented to the monarch during the summer season.

### 7. being in a place

adjective · CEFR A2

being in a particular place at a particular time.

For teachers: being in a specified place; not absent. Predicative or postpositive.

- There were over two hundred people present at the wedding.
- Every member of the board was present for the vote, ensuring that the final decision was legally binding.

Usage: When it means 'being here', it usually comes after the noun (e.g., 'the people present').

### 8. existing now

adjective · CEFR A2

happening or existing at this time.

For teachers: existing or occurring now. Attributive; placed before the noun.

- The present owner of the house has lived here for twenty years.
- Under the present circumstances, it would be unwise to invest all of our capital into a single emerging market.

Usage: In this sense, the adjective always comes before the noun.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.