presence
PREHZNS
Presence (noun) means the fact or state of being in a particular place. Example: “The dog's presence in the house made the children feel much safer.”
noun
1
The fact or state of being in a particular place.
"The dog's presence in the house made the children feel much safer."
"Her presence at the meeting reassured everyone."
"Security cameras record the presence of anyone entering the building."
2
A strong, noticeable personal quality or manner that commands attention.
"The new headteacher has a calm presence that puts nervous pupils at ease."
"She walked into the room with such presence that everyone stopped talking."
"The actor has real presence on stage."
How to use presence
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing somewhere physically, or having a striking, attention-grabbing quality about you.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a strong presence
in the presence of
stage presence
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like presence.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- presences
- Past tense
- presenced
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dog's _____ in the house made the children feel much safer.
Etymology
From Old French presence, from Latin praesentia, "a being present."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for presence
See all rhymes for presence →Frequently asked questions
What does “presence” mean?
The word “presence” means the fact or state of being in a particular place. In plain terms, being somewhere physically, or having a striking, attention-grabbing quality about you.
How do you pronounce “presence”?
“Presence” is pronounced PREHZNS (/ˈpɹɛz(ə)ns/ in IPA).
How do you use “presence” in a sentence?
Here is “presence” used in a sentence: “Her presence at the meeting reassured everyone.”
What part of speech is “presence”?
“Presence” is a noun.
Where does the word “presence” come from?
The word “presence” comes from Latin. From Old French presence, from Latin praesentia, "a being present.".
Is “presence” a common word?
“Presence” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “presence” have?
“Presence” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the fact or state of being in a particular place.
What is the difference between presence and presents?
They sound alike but mean different things. Presence is the state of being somewhere, as in 'her presence at the meeting.' Presents, with a t, are gifts, or the verb meaning to give or show something. If you mean being in a place, the word you want is always presence.
What is the opposite of presence?
The clearest opposite is absence — the state of not being in a place. Where presence means someone or something is there, absence means they are missing or away. Related opposites include nonattendance and, depending on the context, distance or remoteness.
What does it mean to have presence?
Beyond simply being somewhere, 'having presence' describes a person whose manner commands attention — often called stage presence or a commanding presence. It suggests a confidence and impact that make others notice them, even in a crowded room. This sense grows out of the basic idea of being strongly, noticeably there.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include presence:
