presence

noun

pres·​ence ˈpre-zᵊn(t)s How to pronounce presence (audio)
1
: the fact or condition of being present (see present entry 3)
2
a
: the part of space within one's immediate vicinity
b
: the neighborhood of one of superior especially royal rank
3
archaic : company sense 2a
4
: one that is present: such as
a
: the actual person or thing that is present
b
: something present of a visible or concrete nature
5
a
: the bearing, carriage, or air of a person
especially : stately or distinguished bearing
b
: a noteworthy quality of poise and effectiveness
the actor's commanding presence
6
: something (such as a spirit) felt or believed to be present

Examples of presence in a Sentence

Bacteria sense their neighbors and respond to the presence of others in the colony by exchanging small molecules and bits of proteins called peptides … Susan Gaidos, Science News, 17 Jan. 2009
Though because it is a seaside town, there are more people now that it's summer.  … As well, their presence means that our few restaurants—dark through the snowy months—are open now, their lights burning merrily into the summer evenings. Richard Ford, Wall Street Journal, 14-15 June 2008
The two authors suggest that war is better understood as a form of play than as a place of business, that Clausewitzian theory collapses into absurdity in the presence of atomic weapons. Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, September 2007
men should watch their language when in the presence of ladies the orchestra's musical director has a very stately presence
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This island leans more rural, with a heavy agriculture presence and a few bonafide seafood shacks. Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2025 Those traveling to front line regions or Ukraine's border with Belarus may be exposed to Russian and Belarusian military and security presence, active ground combat, frequent shelling, missile and drone attacks, and limitations on the Embassy's ability to provide assistance. Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025 As sake continues to shed its image as a beverage exclusive to Japanese restaurants, its global market presence is poised for further expansion. Claudia Alarcón, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025 With a relatively muted streaming presence and no major breakout hits yet, RUBY is unlikely to challenge for the Billboard 200’s top spot, but should follow ROSÉ’s Number One Girl and Lisa’s Alter Ego to the chart’s top 10. Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for presence

Word History

Etymology

see present entry 3

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of presence was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Presence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presence. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

presence

noun
pres·​ence ˈprez-ᵊn(t)s How to pronounce presence (audio)
1
: the fact or state of being present
no one noticed the stranger's presence
2
: position close to a person
in the presence of a guest
3
: a person's appearance
a stately presence
4
: something felt or believed to be present
a ghostly presence

More from Merriam-Webster on presence

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!