n.
Pronunciation: ' pre-z ə nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin praesent-, praesens, from present participle of praeesse to be before one, from prae- pre- + esse to be ― more at IS
Date: 14th century
1 : now existing or in progress
2 a : being in view or at hand b : existing in something mentioned or under consideration
3 : constituting the one actually involved, at hand, or being considered
4 : of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is expressive of present time or the time of speaking
5 obsolete : ATTENTIVE
6 archaic : INSTANT , IMMEDIATE
– pres · ent · ness noun