present: meaning, pronunciation and examples

/ˈprɛzənt/·PREZ-unt

Present (noun) means something you give to someone, for example on their birthday.

What does “present” mean?

  1. 1

    nounsomething you give to someone, for example on their birthday

    Thanks for the birthday present!
  2. 2

    nounthe time that is happening now

    Let’s focus on the present, not the past.
  3. 3

    verbto give, show or explain something formally to a group (pronounced pri-ZENT)

    She will present her findings at the meeting.

Present at a glance

Part of speech
noun & verb
CEFR level
A2 (elementary)
Pronunciation
/ˈprɛzənt/ · PREZ-unt

How to use “present” correctly

The stress moves: the noun and adjective are PREZ-unt, but the verb is pri-ZENT. “At present” means “now”.

Common phrases with “present”

  • birthday present
  • at present
  • present a report
  • be present at

Synonyms (similar meaning)

Word family

  • presentation
  • presenter
  • presence
  • presently

“present” is on these word lists

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