| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | Latin praesens, present participle of praeesse 'to be before' |
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pres‧ent1 S2 W2

1 in a particular place [≠ absent]
place
[not before noun] present at/in
Foreign observers were present at the elections.
the gases present in the earth's atmosphere
Foreign observers were present at the elections.
the gases present in the earth's atmosphere2 to be felt strongly or remembered for a long time
memory
[not before noun]3 happening or existing now :
time
[only before noun]4 in the time now, or modern times :
The practice has continued from medieval times to the present day.
the present day
also the present
The practice has continued from medieval times to the present day.5 the form of the verb that shows an existing state or action :
the present tense of the verb 'to be'
the present
also the present tense technicalSLG
the present tense of the verb 'to be'6 used to say that everyone who is supposed to be in a place, at a meeting etc is now here
all present and correct
British English, all present and accounted for American English7 used when you are criticizing a group of people and you want to tell the people you are with that they are not included in the criticism :
Women are never satisfied with anything! Present company excepted, of course.
present company excepted
spoken
Women are never satisfied with anything! Present company excepted, of course.