presence

noun

pres·​ence ˈpre-zᵊn(t)s How to pronounce presence (audio)
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
a
: the bearing, carriage, or air of a person
especially : stately or distinguished bearing
b
: a noteworthy quality of poise and effectiveness
the actor's commanding presence
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Soccer fans filed into the Stade de France amid a heavy police presence. Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024 Unusual Machines continues to focus on integrating its recent acquisitions and expanding its presence in the commercial drone industry. Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024 Clues to Another Geologic Puzzle Not only do the new findings further cement the global Snowball Earth hypothesis, but the presence of Tava injectites within weak, fractured rocks once overridden by ice sheets provides clues about other geologic phenomena. Liam Courtney-Davies, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024 The series intends Penn to be a contrast point, to make her smooth wheeling and dealing feel artificial compared with Wyler’s more passionate righteousness, but her presence ends up emphasizing how hollow Wyler’s character actually feels. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for presence 

Word History

Etymology

see present entry 3

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of presence was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near presence

Cite this Entry

“Presence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presence. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

presence

noun
pres·​ence ˈprez-ᵊn(t)s How to pronounce presence (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on presence

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