- the state or fact of being present
- the immediate proximity of a person or thing
- personal appearance or bearing, esp of a dignified nature
- an imposing or dignified personality
- an invisible spirit felt to be nearby
- a recording control that boosts mid-range frequencies
- obsolete assembly or company
- obsolete
short for presence chamber
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pres•ence /ˈprɛzəns/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the state or fact of being present:[uncountable]Her presence at the party created some excitement.
- the state or condition of being near someone;
proximity:[uncountable]wouldn't dare say that in your presence. - the power of a country reflected in foreign countries by the stationing of its troops, sale of its goods, etc.: [uncountable]nonmilitary presence.[countable* usually singular]a military presence in the region for the sake of stability.
- the ability to give off a sense of ease, dignity, or self-assurance:[uncountable]an attorney with definite presence.
pres•ence
(prez′əns),USA pronunciation n.
- the state or fact of being present, as with others or in a place.
- attendance or company:Your presence is requested.
- immediate vicinity;
proximity:in the presence of witnesses. - the military or economic power of a country as reflected abroad by the stationing of its troops, sale of its goods, etc.:the American military presence in Europe; the Japanese presence in the U.S. consumer market.
- British Terms[Chiefly Brit.]the immediate personal vicinity of a great personage giving audience or reception:summoned to her presence.
- the ability to project a sense of ease, poise, or self-assurance, esp. the quality or manner of a person's bearing before an audience:The speaker had a good deal of stage presence.
- personal appearance or bearing, esp. of a dignified or imposing kind:a man of fine presence.
- a person, esp. of noteworthy appearance or compelling personality:He is a real presence, even at a private party.
- a divine or supernatural spirit felt to be present:He felt a presence with him in the room.
- British TermsSee presence chamber.
- Latin praesentia. See present1, -ence
- Middle French
- Middle English 1300–50
- 3. neighborhood. 6. carriage, mien.
- 1. absence.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
presence /ˈprɛzəns/ n
'presence' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
ABO system
- albuminuria
- alicyclic
- amido-
- anaerobic
- anthropic principle
- antibody
- Ark
- aza-
- azo-
- B-sample
- be
- before
- benzo-
- bit
- borderless
- bricks and mortar
- camouflage
- chorionic gonadotrophin
- clotting factor
- coliform bacteria
- complain
- consonant
- coroner
- corrosion
- death cap
- demilitarize
- detect
- Down's syndrome
- duel
- emphysema
- exasperate
- execute
- face
- ferri-
- ferro-
- flag
- fluoro-
- furunculosis
- gas chromatography
- genetic marker
- ghostly
- glacial
- glycaemia
- glycosuria
- grace
- greenstone
- Haber process
- haematuria
- heterogamy