presencenoun
uk/ˈprez.əns/us/ˈprez.əns/B2 [ S ] the fact that someone or something is in a place:
She was overawed by the presence of so many people.
The presence of pollen in the atmosphere causes hay fever in some people.
He's usually quite polite in my presence.
The document was signed in the presence of two witnesses.
C2 [ C usually singular ] a feeling that someone is still in a place although they are not there or are dead:
His daughter's presence seemed to fill her empty bedroom.
C2 [ S ] a group of police or soldiers who are watching or controlling a situation:
The United Nations has maintained a presence in the region for some time.
There was a strong police presence at the demonstration.
C2 [ U ] approving a quality that makes people notice or admire you, even when you are not speaking:
stage presence
He stood there in the corner of the room, a dark, brooding (= worrying) presence.
More examples
- The strong police presence only heightened the tension among the crowd.
- Some workers were inhibited from speaking by the presence of their managers.
- He didn't even acknowledge my presence.
- He signed the treaty in the presence of two witnesses.
- He stood there in the corner of the room, a dark, brooding presence.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Present
- all over somewhere idiom
- anywhere
- appearance
- attendance
- attendant
- be in at the kill idiom
- front
- here
- immanent
- in the flesh idiom
- kick
- kick around
- kill
- pervasive
- present
- sit
- sit in
- sit through sth
- synchronic
- to sb's face idiom
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Non-existence and not being
Strange, suspicious and unnatural
Behaving, interacting and behaviour
Idiom(s)
make your presence felt