- [only before noun] existing or happening now
- I am not satisfied with the present situation.
- The present study has two main aims.
- the present owner of the house
- a list of all club members, past and present
- We do not have any more information at the present time.
- A few brief comments are sufficient for present purposes.
- You can’t use it in its present condition.
Which Word? actual / current / presentactual / current / presentsee also present dayTopics Timea1- Actual does not mean current or present. It means ‘real’ or ‘exact’, and is often used in contrast with something that is not seen as real or exact:
- I need the actual figures, not an estimate.
- Present means ‘existing or happening now’:
- How long have you been in your present job?
- Current also means ‘existing or happening now’, but can suggest that the situation is temporary:
- The factory cannot continue its current level of production.
- Actually does not mean ‘at the present time’. Use currently, at present or at the moment instead.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- remain
- ever
- physically
- naturally
- …
- past and present
- [not before noun] (of a person) being in a particular place
- I wasn’t present when the doctor examined him.
- The mistake was obvious to all those present.
- present at something There were 200 people present at the meeting.
- Most fathers wish to be present at the birth of their child.
- Simply to be physically present was all that was required.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- remain
- ever
- physically
- naturally
- …
- past and present
- [not before noun] (of a thing or a substance) existing in a particular place or thing
- The threat of force was always present.
- the ever present risk of pollution
- present in something Levels of pollution present in the atmosphere are increasing.
- Analysis showed that traces of arsenic were present in the body.
More Like This Pronunciation changes by part of speechPronunciation changes by part of speechOxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- remain
- ever
- physically
- naturally
- …
- past and present
Word Originadjective Middle English: via Old French from Latin praesent- ‘being at hand’, present participle of praeesse, from prae ‘before’ + esse ‘be’.
Idioms
See present in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee present in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishall present and correct (British English)
(North American English all present and accounted for)
- used to say that all the things or people who should be there are now there
present company excepted
- (informal) used after being rude or critical about somebody to say that the people you are talking to are not included in the criticism
- The people in this office are so narrow-minded, present company excepted, of course.
Check pronunciation:
present