present

pres|ent1 [ `prezənt ] adjective ***

1. ) only before noun existing or happening now:

The present situation cannot be allowed to continue.

In his present emotional state, he is capable of doing anything.

The present owners purchased the farm in 1976.

the present day (=now): the history of Jamestown from the 17th century to the present day

a ) being considered now:

The subjects in the present study have been replaced by younger people.

2. ) never before noun at an event, or in a place:

I wasn't present when Dr. Allott examined Clare.

present at: Among those present at the ceremony were Michael Sandel and Carolyn Ewing.

a ) existing somewhere:

The chemicals obviously kill any bacteria present.

present in: Both kinds of nucleic acid are present in all cells.

all present and accounted for SPOKEN

used for saying that everyone or everything that should be somewhere is in fact there

present company excepted SPOKEN

used for saying that a criticism that you are making does not refer to the person or people who are with you

present

pres|ent 2 [ prı`zent ] verb transitive ***

▸ 1 give formally/officially

▸ 2 cause situation etc.

▸ 3 offer to be considered

▸ 4 show someone/something certain way

▸ 5 produce/organize something

▸ 6 introduce someone formally

▸ 7 show something to an official

▸ 8 express greetings etc.

▸ 9 give check/bill

▸ 10 introduce program

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) to give something to someone formally or officially:

Hannah was the guest of honor and presented the prizes.

present someone with something: We are very pleased to have been presented with this prestigious award.

present something to someone: Finally the Mayor presented the medals to the winners.

2. ) to cause something such as a problem, threat, or opportunity:

It was argued that the group's activities presented a threat to national security.

present someone with something: Despite its free-market reforms, the country still presents foreign investors with a challenge.

present a problem/difficulty: The task should present no difficulty for someone with her experience.

3. ) to offer something for people to consider or judge:

The commission presented its report in October.

present something to someone: Barnes subsequently presented the case to a meeting of the joint subcommittee.

4. ) to show someone or something in a particular way so that people have a particular opinion about them:

The movie presents a disturbing image of youth culture.

present someone/something as something: Statistics can be used to challenge theories that are presented as facts.

present yourself as something: In the early days of the election he sought to present himself as a family man.

5. ) to produce or organize something such as a play, movie, or exhibit:

Next week the theater presents Michael Frayn's Copenhagen.

6. ) to introduce someone formally to someone else, especially to an important person:

Miss Abbott, may I present the author Anne Rice?

present someone to someone: They hovered around, hoping to be presented to the celebrities.

7. ) to show something such as a passport to someone in an official position so that they can check it:

The soldiers stopped them and said they must present their papers.

present something to someone: He presented his passport to the guard for inspection.

8. ) FORMAL to express something such as greetings to someone:

He has asked me to present his apologies for his absence.

9. ) to give a check to a bank so that it can be put into your account

a ) to give someone a bill that they must pay

10. ) BRITISH to be the person who introduces a television or radio program

present arms

if soldiers are ordered to present arms, they hold their weapons upright in front of them in order to show respect for someone important who is going past them

present itself

if something such as an opportunity, idea, or problem presents itself, it suddenly happens:

I'll tell her when the opportunity presents itself.

present yourself FORMAL

if you present yourself somewhere, you go there, especially for an official purpose

present

pres|ent 3 [ `prezənt ] noun ***

1. ) count something that you give to someone, for example to celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday: GIFT:

Sam's grandma brings him huge numbers of presents every time she comes to visit.

wedding/birthday/Christmas present: I'm going to buy a wedding present for Chris and Karen.

wrap a present (=cover it in special paper): Yuki was wrapping a present for her mother.

2. ) the present the period of time that is happening now:

We must learn to live in the present, not in the past.

a ) at present now:

At present, the outlook for any kind of negotiated solution appears bleak.

b ) for the present used for saying that something exists or happens in the period of time happening now but may not be permanent:

It was useless to talk about it any more, at least for the present.

c ) (there's) no time like the present SPOKEN used for saying that someone should do something now, and not wait until later:

When do you want to meet? Well, there's no time like the present. How about today?

3. ) the present LINGUISTICS the PRESENT TENSE