presence of mind
noun phrase
: self-control so maintained in an emergency or in an embarrassing situation that one can say or do the right thing
Examples of presence of mind in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The play started in the defensive zone, with Larkin picking up a puck, resetting, then transporting it himself through the neutral zone, chipping it past the defender and just winning a physical battle — and then still having the presence of mind to find the trailer.
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Max Bultman, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
Fair play to Merino for having the presence of mind to mark his sensational winner against Germany in the same way his father celebrated scoring in the same city during a UEFA Cup game 33 years earlier.
—Phil Hay, The Athletic, 8 July 2024
Though unprepared, Betsy said the couple had the presence of mind to grab their prescriptions, passports and election ballots.
—Kyle Martin, The Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2024
Williams initially bobbled a deep pass in the third quarter but had enough presence of mind to tip it with his right hand to keep it in the air, spin around to locate the ball, and then catch it for a 54-yard gain.
—Andrew Greif, NBC News, 29 Sep. 2024
Trump’s presence of mind and sense of the moment, after having just been nearly killed and perhaps while still in mortal peril, speak to his natural talents and instincts as a politician and populist symbol.
—The Editors, National Review, 14 July 2024
Merz had the presence of mind to crawl from underneath the car and switch off the engine to prevent an explosion.
—Dawn Mitchell, The Indianapolis Star, 22 May 2024
Falling out of bounds, the fifth-year veteran had the presence of mind to call a timeout to set up his shot, which eventually served as the dagger.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2024
Poetry is a path back and away from that mind-set and toward a presence of mind and concentration that fosters possibility.
—New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
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Max Bultman, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
Fair play to Merino for having the presence of mind to mark his sensational winner against Germany in the same way his father celebrated scoring in the same city during a UEFA Cup game 33 years earlier.
—Phil Hay, The Athletic, 8 July 2024
Though unprepared, Betsy said the couple had the presence of mind to grab their prescriptions, passports and election ballots.
—Kyle Martin, The Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2024
Williams initially bobbled a deep pass in the third quarter but had enough presence of mind to tip it with his right hand to keep it in the air, spin around to locate the ball, and then catch it for a 54-yard gain.
—Andrew Greif, NBC News, 29 Sep. 2024
Trump’s presence of mind and sense of the moment, after having just been nearly killed and perhaps while still in mortal peril, speak to his natural talents and instincts as a politician and populist symbol.
—The Editors, National Review, 14 July 2024
Merz had the presence of mind to crawl from underneath the car and switch off the engine to prevent an explosion.
—Dawn Mitchell, The Indianapolis Star, 22 May 2024
Falling out of bounds, the fifth-year veteran had the presence of mind to call a timeout to set up his shot, which eventually served as the dagger.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2024
Poetry is a path back and away from that mind-set and toward a presence of mind and concentration that fosters possibility.
—New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Presence of mind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presence%20of%20mind. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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