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present

/ˈpɹɛz.ənt/
adjectivenounverb

Present meaning: the current time, a grammatical tense, or a gift; PRESENT is a seven-letter word worth 9 Scrabble points.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Adjective 4 meanings

  1. Relating to now, for the time being; current.

    “The barbaric practice continues to the present day.”

  2. Located in the immediate vicinity.

    “Only half of all present members were present at the meeting.”

  3. Ready; quick in emergency.

    “a present wit”

  4. Relating to something a person is referring to in the very context, with a deictic use similar to the demonstrative adjective this.

    “Near-synonyms: this (determiner), this (pronoun), current”

Noun 4 meanings

  1. The current moment or period of time.

  2. The present tense.

  3. A gift, especially one given for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, or any other special occasions.

    “wedding present”

  4. The position of a soldier in presenting arms.

    “The platoon stands at present.”

Verb 4 meanings

  1. To bring (someone) into the presence of (a person); to introduce formally.

    “to present an envoy to the king”

  2. To appear or represent oneself outwardly.

    “With your shabby attire, you do not present well as a prospective investment banking associate!”

  3. To nominate (a member of the clergy) for an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.

  4. To offer (a problem, complaint) to a court or other authority for consideration.

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle English present, from Old French present, from Latin praesent-, praesens, present participle of praeesse (“to be present”), from Latin prae- (“pre-”) + esse (“to be”). Displaced Old English andweard (“present, current”).

Similar and opposite words

Similar
closethiscurrentaudientheedfulreckfulnearbycontemporary
Opposite
absentdelayeddistractedinattentivefuturepast

PRESENT has an unusually convenient split personality: it names what is happening now and something wrapped for a celebration. In grammar, it also names the tense used for current or habitual action. The seven letters sort to EENPRST, and the familiar spelling makes it easier to recognize than its anagrams SERPENT, REPENTS, and PENSTER.

PRESENT at a glance

  • Scrabble assigns PRESENT 9 points: P is worth 3, while R, E, S, N, and T are each worth 1.
  • Three anagrams use the same seven tiles: SERPENT, REPENTS, and PENSTER.
  • PRESENT has two one-letter neighbors: PREVENT and PRECENT.
  • The rhyme set has 12 words with the ending ENT, including WENT, SENT, and EVENT.

What does present mean?

Present has several familiar senses. As a noun, it means the current moment or period, as in “live in the present”; it can also mean a gift for a birthday, wedding, or another occasion. In grammar, the present tense describes current or habitual action.

A less everyday definition connects PRESENT with a soldier presenting arms. That sense is a reminder that word validity and ordinary usage are different questions: PRESENT is common in general English, but its Scrabble score comes from tile values, not its meanings. The letter P supplies 3 of its 9 points.

Present meaning and the closest word matches

SERPENT and REPENTS are familiar rearrangements of PRESENT; PENSTER is the unusual one. All three keep the same seven tiles, so they are full anagrams rather than shorter words made from a subset. When solving a rack, try moving the two E tiles first, then test the remaining consonants around them.

PREVENT and PRECENT differ from PRESENT by one letter, making them its two one-letter neighbors. PREVENT is the everyday option; PRECENT is less familiar, so confirm it against the word list used in your game. An unfamiliar neighbor can look plausible without being accepted in every dictionary.

Rhymes cluster around the final ENT sound, from short WENT and SENT to longer GOVERNMENT and DEVELOPMENT, 12 words in all. Those are sound matches, not anagrams, so they do not share PRESENT's letters. For an anagram challenge, use SERPENT, REPENTS, or PENSTER; for a rhyme clue, focus on the ENT ending.

Rhymes with present

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One letter away

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Questions people ask

What does present mean?
Present can mean the current moment, the present tense, or a gift. It also has a less common sense connected with a soldier presenting arms. The intended meaning depends on the sentence: “live in the present” refers to time, while “open a present” means unwrap a gift.
How many points is PRESENT worth in Scrabble?
PRESENT is worth 9 points before any board premiums. Its P is worth 3, and each of R, E, S, N, and T is worth 1. A letter or word premium can change the play’s final total, but not the base value of the tiles.
What are the anagrams of PRESENT?
The full anagrams are SERPENT, REPENTS, and PENSTER. Each uses all the letters in PRESENT, including both E tiles. SERPENT and REPENTS are more familiar words; PENSTER is the less common option, so check the word list used in your game before playing it.

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