Word Definition

Present

  1. To nominate for support at a public school or other institution .
  2. To aim, point, or direct, as a weapon; as, to present a pistol or the point of a sword to the breast of another.
  3. To lay before a court as an object of inquiry; to give notice officially of, as a crime of offence; to find or represent judicially; as, a grand jury present certain offenses or nuisances, or whatever they think to be public injuries.
  4. Favorably attentive; propitious.
  5. Present time; the time being; time in progress now, or at the moment contemplated; as, at this present.
  6. Hence: To endow; to bestow a gift upon; to favor, as with a donation; also, to court by gifts.
  7. Present letters or instrument, as a deed of conveyance, a lease, letter of attorney, or other writing; as in the phrase, " Know all men by these presents," that is, by the writing itself, " per has literas praesentes; " -- in this sense, rarely used in the singular.
  8. To nominate to an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.
  9. Anything presented or given; a gift; a donative; as, a Christmas present.
  10. A present tense, or the form of the verb denoting the present tense.
  11. To appear at the mouth of the uterus so as to be perceptible to the finger in vaginal examination; -- said of a part of an infant during labor.
  12. To bring an indictment against .
  13. To lay before a public body, or an official, for consideration, as before a legislature, a court of judicature, a corporation, etc.; as, to present a memorial, petition, remonstrance, or indictment.
  14. To pass over, esp. in a ceremonious manner; to give in charge or possession; to deliver; to make over.
  15. Being at hand, within reach or call, within certain contemplated limits; -- opposed to absent.
  16. To present; to personate.
  17. Ready; quick in emergency; as a present wit.
  18. To make a gift of; to bestow; to give, generally in a formal or ceremonious manner; to grant; to confer.
  19. Not delayed; immediate; instant; coincident.
  20. To bring or introduce into the presence of some one, especially of a superior; to introduce formally; to offer for acquaintance; as, to present an envoy to the king; (with the reciprocal pronoun) to come into the presence of a superior.
  21. The position of a soldier in presenting arms; as, to stand at present.
  22. Now existing, or in process; begun but not ended; now in view, or under consideration; being at this time; not past or future; as, the present session of Congress; the present state of affairs; the present instance.
  23. To exhibit or offer to view or notice; to lay before one's perception or cognizance; to set forth; to present a fine appearance.

Antonyms