present 1 of 4

present

2 of 4

adjective

present

3 of 4

noun (1)

as in today
the time currently existing or in progress I cannot talk to you at present, but perhaps in a few minutes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

present

4 of 4

noun (2)

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

Examples of present in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Jones was also present with the 59-year-old when the pair presented Snoop Dogg with his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2024 Yet Gaga’s return to the spotlight was in part presented as a legacy artist with a bulletproof back catalog, thanks in part to something that took place four months after Joanne: the Super Bowl. Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
One of the biggest things that can feel like a real treat is actually time - time to relax and be present. Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 Elections officials noted that 10 police officers were present during last week's press conference to discuss the city's election operations. Joe Guillen, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
Chewy is your one-stop shop for finding all the best presents for dogs, cats, hamsters and beyond this holiday season. Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024 Designer Mary Katrantzou recently reinvented their line of luxury bags, which would make a perfect present for any woman on your list. Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for present 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for present
Verb
  • Harris refused to accept any responsibility – or to offer even the outline of a genuine plan to keep inflation rates low.
    Richard Stacy, The Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2024
  • This peppermint mousse version offers a holiday twist on the Dark Lord of the Sith favorite.
    Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Harris didn’t take the opportunity to distance herself from Biden enough on that issue or introduce different ideas, Syed said.
    Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Even a few years after Apple introduced the system, the slimness of the iMac is still pretty impressive.
    Brian Westover, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Common treatments include: Phlebotomy (therapeutic blood removal): Regular blood removal, similar to donating blood, is a standard treatment for hemochromatosis.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Germany has donated more than $10 million to the project.
    George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • In October, Trump’s team asked the Federal Election Commission to investigate after a senior Labour figure posted a rallying cry for current and former staffers to travel to battleground states and campaign for Harris.
    Hannah Peart, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Jeffersontown City Council There were 16 candidates competing for Jeffersontown's eight council seats, which included each of the current members.
    Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The commerce gave rise to the unusual Hotel Royal, the wooden frame lodging rising four stories above the dirt Main Street.
    Ray Hanley, arkansasonline.com, 30 Oct. 2024
  • Editor’s tip: This serum gives skin an instant radiance that’ll subtly shine through your foundation or glow all on its own on makeup-free days.
    Emily Orofino, Allure, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • This would be an excellent time to give back, by volunteering to feed the hungry or by donating some of those old clothes to charities that need them.
    Essence, Essence, 1 Nov. 2024
  • The group will split into two teams, competing in Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice trivia questions, while also giving away prizes and encouraging all attendees to vote and volunteer for Kamala Harris and the Democratic ticket.
    Zoe G. Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • With the war for skills and talent still ongoing, the C-suite increasingly wants to know how policies and processes drive these metrics.
    Jamie Aitken, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
  • The focus now shifts to how to keep awareness on the area and the ongoing need as the recovery will take years.
    Melinda Newman, Billboard, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • For drivers, the following public parking lots will also be available near Heritage Bank Center: East Garage, located at 443 E. Pete Rose Way, and Central Riverfront Garage, located at 149 Broadway St. Where is the rideshare drop-off and pickup area at Heritage Bank Center?
    Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 3 Nov. 2024
  • Merchandise is available at Lucas Oil Stadium Saturday and Sunday night.
    Holly V. Hays, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near present

Cite this Entry

“Present.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/present. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on present

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