presence
noun
pres·ence
ˈpre-zᵊn(t)s 
1
: the fact or condition of being present (see present entry 3)
2
a
: the part of space within one's immediate vicinity
b
: the neighborhood of one of superior especially royal rank
3
archaic
: company sense 2a
4
: one that is present: such as
a
: the actual person or thing that is present
b
: something present of a visible or concrete nature
5
6
: something (such as a spirit) felt or believed to be present
Examples of presence in a Sentence
Bacteria sense their neighbors and respond to the presence of others in the colony by exchanging small molecules and bits of proteins called peptides …
—
Susan Gaidos, Science News, 17 Jan. 2009
Though because it is a seaside town, there are more people now that it's summer. … As well, their presence means that our few restaurants—dark through the snowy months—are open now, their lights burning merrily into the summer evenings.
—Richard Ford, Wall Street Journal, 14-15 June 2008
The two authors suggest that war is better understood as a form of play than as a place of business, that Clausewitzian theory collapses into absurdity in the presence of atomic weapons.
—Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, September 2007
men should watch their language when in the presence of ladies
the orchestra's musical director has a very stately presence
Susan Gaidos, Science News, 17 Jan. 2009
Though because it is a seaside town, there are more people now that it's summer. … As well, their presence means that our few restaurants—dark through the snowy months—are open now, their lights burning merrily into the summer evenings.
—Richard Ford, Wall Street Journal, 14-15 June 2008
The two authors suggest that war is better understood as a form of play than as a place of business, that Clausewitzian theory collapses into absurdity in the presence of atomic weapons.
—Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, September 2007
men should watch their language when in the presence of ladies
the orchestra's musical director has a very stately presence
Recent Examples on the Web
As interest in genealogy and ancestry proliferates, these tools let relatives preserve memories and personal connections for decades — even giving children a sense of the physical presence of a relative who died before they were born, Axios' Jennifer Kingston writes.
—Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024
The entire Kaminski family took an empathetic approach to the presence known as Peter.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 25 Oct. 2024
After a few months, when the new crosses are at the seedling stage, they can be tested for the presence of absence of certain genes.
—Laura Helmuth, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2024
Hawaii is ramping up its efforts to stop the spread of coconut rhinoceros beetles, an invasive species that has expanded its presence drastically since first being detected in the state a decade ago.
—CBS News, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for presence 
Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024
The entire Kaminski family took an empathetic approach to the presence known as Peter.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 25 Oct. 2024
After a few months, when the new crosses are at the seedling stage, they can be tested for the presence of absence of certain genes.
—Laura Helmuth, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2024
Hawaii is ramping up its efforts to stop the spread of coconut rhinoceros beetles, an invasive species that has expanded its presence drastically since first being detected in the state a decade ago.
—CBS News, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for presence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'presence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near presence
Cite this Entry
“Presence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presence. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
presence
noun
pres·ence
ˈprez-ᵊn(t)s
1
: the fact or state of being present
no one noticed the stranger's presence
2
: position close to a person
in the presence of a guest
3
: a person's appearance
a stately presence
4
: something felt or believed to be present
a ghostly presence
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