present

³pres·ent

adj \ˈpre-z^ənt\

Definition of PRESENT

1

: now existing or in progress

2

a : being in view or at hand b : existing in something mentioned or under consideration

3

: constituting the one actually involved, at hand, or being considered

4

: of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is expressive of present time or the time of speaking

5

obsolete : attentive

6

archaic : instant, immediate

— pres·ent·ness noun

Examples of PRESENT

1. The game has existed in its present form for more than 300 years.
2. <I am very busy at the present moment.>

Origin of PRESENT

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin praesent-, praesens, from present participle of praeesse to be before one, from prae- pre- + esse to be — more at is

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PRESENT

Synonyms: current, extant, immediate, instant, ongoing, present-day

Antonyms: absent, away, missing, out

Related Words: contemporary, mod, modern, modernistic, new, newfangled, new-fashioned, recent, red-hot, space-age, supermodern, ultramodern, up-to-date; being, breathing, existent, existing, living

Near Antonyms: coming, future, unborn; completed, concluded, done, ended, finished, over, terminated, through, up; ancient, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, archaic, dated, fusty, musty, noncontemporary, obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, outworn, passé; ago, bygone, erstwhile, former, past

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide