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?

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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
Customize the little carryall with your initials for an extra special touch or the perfect present. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 30 July 2026 The artist duo Motus created the murals in each room to depict the connection between Kabutocho's history and its present, with palettes ranging from spring green to lake blue. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026
Adjective
But the floors beneath them look nice — wide plank boards that, like the marble fireplaces seemingly present in every room, are original or at least very old. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 3 Aug. 2026 Then be fully present on the phone, singing to her and celebrating her from a distance. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
As the moon clashes with Mercury, beware of presenting your biases as fact. — Usa Today, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 The two sides explored ways to reinvigorate diplomacy, including an air ceasefire that could eventually be presented to Moscow, according to people familiar with the discussions. — Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for present
Recent Examples of Synonyms for present
  1. gift
  2. today
  3. current
  4. available
  5. offer
  6. introduce
  7. donate
  8. presentation
Noun
  • The Herald reported Whitaker’s statement on July 17 in a story that first disclosed the GMCVB’s ticket gift to Rodriguez through the commissioner’s political action committee, A Bolder Florida.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Reid’s constancy is one of the gifts that has led him to the pinnacle of the NFL as the fourth-winningest coach in league history.
    — Vahe Gregorian July 31, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
Definition of gift
Noun
  • Like Neto, there is some strikeout risk with Adames, but that seems to be the case with most hitters in the big leagues today.
    — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • That physical practice produced a defensive dominant today, which provided a couple of clues about the roster.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Definition of today
Adjective
  • After losing Noodle, Graziano spent some time fostering dogs before adopting his current pug, Milton.
    — Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Some have argued that the current ethics provisions still don’t go far enough.
    — Anthony Scaramucci, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of current
Adjective
  • Accessible rooms are available in several different room types, and laid out on in detail the hotel website.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The faux suede boots, which are available in standard and wide calf widths, feature a pointed toe, block heels, and a slouchy design.
    — Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of available
Verb
  • In addition to the music, performances and fireworks, guests could participate in a butterfly release, while VIP ticket holders were offered dinner and tethered hot-air balloon rides, weather permitting.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • With Jupiter returning to the predawn sky, a comet lingering and the possibility of a nova explosion, August offers almost every major kind of celestial event in a single month.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of offer
Verb
  • The macOS ecosystem had to deal with a similar issue when the function keys were replaced by the touch-sensitive Touch Bar, introduced in 2016.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Butterfly Bash was introduced as the signature celebration of the milestone year.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of introduce
Verb
  • People are encouraged to donate blood to help curb the shortage, especially those with Type O blood.
    — Eva Flowe July 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
  • Selling the place was impossible until the siblings could figure out what to do with their grandfather’s stuff, which wasn’t the usual matter of donating a few boxes and holding an estate sale.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 July 2026
Definition of donate
Noun
  • The hearing will also feature presentations from representatives of insurance companies.
    — Jenna Carlesso, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The best part of the competition is taking a deep dive into a specific topic, Wadkins said, and also listening to the other students’ presentations to learn more about a specific time or person in history.
    — Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of presentation

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 5 Aug. 2026.

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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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