The difference between Absent and Present

When used as nouns, absent means absentee, whereas present means the current moment or period of time.

When used as verbs, absent means to keep (oneself) away, whereas present means to bring (someone) into the presence of (a person).

When used as adjectives, absent means being away from a place, whereas present means relating to now, for the time being.


Absent is also preposition with the meaning: in the absence of.

check bellow for the other definitions of Absent and Present

  1. Absent as an adjective (not comparable):

    Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present; missing.

  2. Absent as an adjective (not comparable):

    Not existing; lacking.

    Examples:

    "The part was rudimental or absent."

  3. Absent as an adjective (sometimes, comparable):

    Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied.

  1. Absent as a noun (obsolete):

    Absentee; a person who is away on occasion.

  1. Absent as a preposition:

    In the absence of; without.

    Examples:

    "'Absent taxes modern governments cannot function."

  1. Absent as a verb (reflexive):

    To keep (oneself) away.

    Examples:

    "Most of the men are retired, jobless, or have otherwise temporarily absented themselves from the workplace."

  2. Absent as a verb (transitive, archaic):

    To keep (someone) away.

  3. Absent as a verb (intransitive, obsolete):

    Stay away; withdraw.

  4. Absent as a verb (transitive, rare):

    Leave.

  1. Present as an adjective:

    Relating to now, for the time being; current.

    Examples:

    "The [[barbaric]] [[practice]] continues to the present day."

    "The present [[manager]] has been here [[longer]] than the last one."

  2. Present as an adjective:

    Located in the immediate vicinity.

    Examples:

    "Is there a doctor present?  Several [[people]] were present when the event took place."

  3. Present as an adjective (obsolete):

    Having an immediate effect (of a medicine, poison etc.); fast-acting.

  4. Present as an adjective (obsolete):

    Not delayed; immediate; instant.

  5. Present as an adjective (dated):

    Ready; quick in emergency.

    Examples:

    "a present wit"

  6. Present as an adjective (obsolete):

    Favorably attentive; propitious.

  7. Present as an adjective:

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

    Examples:

    "in the present [[study]], the present [[article]], the present [[results]]."

  8. Present as an adjective:

    Attentive; alert; focused.

    Examples:

    "Sorry, I was [[distracted]] just now, I'll try to be more present from now on."

  1. Present as a noun:

    The current moment or period of time.

  2. Present as a noun:

    The present tense.

  1. Present as a noun:

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

  2. Present as a noun (military):

    The position of a soldier in presenting arms.

    Examples:

    "to stand at present'"

  1. Present as a verb:

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

    Examples:

    "to present an envoy to the king"

  2. Present as a verb (transitive):

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

  3. Present as a verb (transitive):

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

  4. Present as a verb (transitive, now, rare):

    To charge (a person) with a crime or accusation; to bring before court.

  5. Present as a verb (reflexive):

    To come forward, appear in a particular place or before a particular person, especially formally.

  6. Present as a verb (transitive):

    To put (something) forward in order for it to be seen; to show, exhibit.

  7. Present as a verb (transitive):

    To make clear to one's mind or intelligence; to put forward for consideration.

  8. Present as a verb (transitive):

    To put on, stage (a play etc.).

    Examples:

    "The theater is proud to present the Fearless Fliers."

  9. Present as a verb (transitive, military):

    To point (a firearm) at something, to hold (a weapon) in a position ready to fire.

  10. Present as a verb (reflexive):

    To offer oneself for mental consideration; to occur to the mind.

    Examples:

    "Well, one idea does present itself."

  11. Present as a verb (intransitive, medicine):

    To come to the attention of medical staff, especially a specific symptom.

    Examples:

    "The patient presented with insomnia."

  12. Present as a verb (intransitive, medicine):

    To appear (in a specific way) for delivery (of a fetus); to appear first at the mouth of the uterus during childbirth.

  13. Present as a verb (intransitive, with "as"):

    To appear or represent oneself (as having a certain gender).

    Examples:

    "At that time, [[w:Lili Elbe Elbe]] was presenting as a man."

    "I was presenting as a boy / a girl / a man / a woman / (a) male / (a) female / masculine / feminine"

  14. Present as a verb (transitive):

    To act as presenter on (a radio, television programme etc.).

    Examples:

    "w Anne Robinson presents "w The Weakest Link (UK game show) The Weakest Link"."

  15. Present as a verb (transitive):

    To give a gift or presentation to (someone).

    Examples:

    "She was presented with an honorary degree for her services to entertainment."

  16. Present as a verb (transitive):

    To give (a gift or presentation) to someone; to bestow.

  17. Present as a verb (transitive):

    To deliver (something abstract) as though as a gift; to offer.

    Examples:

    "I presented my compliments to Lady Featherstoneshaw."

  18. Present as a verb (transitive):

    To hand over (a bill etc.) to be paid.

  19. Present as a verb (intransitive, zoology):

    To display one's female genitalia in a way that signals to others that one is ready for copulation. Also referred to as .

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