presence

/ˈprɛzns/

/ˈprɛzəns/

Other forms: presences

Presence is the state of being somewhere. When you get an invitation that reads "Your presence is requested,” you are being asked to show up. Your style of being there — your demeanor or bearing — is also your presence.

Usually, presence is a physical thing. Since the 1600s, the word has also meant something otherwordly, a spiritual or divine presence. If you suddenly feel a weird presence in the room, perhaps it's a ghost . . . or just the cat. Use the phrase "presence of mind" to indicate when someone is quick-witted or just paying attention. While your job washing skyscraper windows doesn't require a lot of brain work, it's a good idea to keep your presence of mind while working.

Definitions of presence

1. noun

   the state of being present; current existence
   “he tested for the presence of radon”

   antonyms:

   absence

   the state of being absent

   types:

   immanence, immanency

   the state of being within or not going beyond a given domain

   inherence, inherency

   the state of inhering; the state of being a fixed characteristic

   ubiety

   the state of existing and being localized in space

   omnipresence, ubiquitousness, ubiquity

   the state of being everywhere at once (or seeming to be everywhere at once)

   hereness

   the state of being here in this place

   thereness

   the state of being there--not here--in position

   thereness

   real existence

   occurrence

   an instance of something occurring

   shadow

   a dominating and pervasive presence

   allopatry

   the occurrence of related organisms in separate geographical areas with no overlap

   sympatry

   the occurrence of organisms in overlapping geographical areas, but without interbreeding

   type of:

   being, beingness, existence

   the state or fact of existing
2. noun

   the act of being present
   antonyms:

   absence

   failure to be present

   type of:

   attendance, attending

   the act of being present (at a meeting or event etc.)
3. noun

   the impression that something is present
   “he felt the presence of an evil force”

   type of:

   belief, feeling, impression, notion, opinion

   a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
4. noun

   the immediate proximity of someone or something
   “she blushed in his presence”

   “he sensed the presence of danger”

   synonyms: front

   type of:

   proximity

   the region close around a person or thing
5. noun

   an invisible spiritual being felt to be nearby
   type of:

   disembodied spirit, spirit

   any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings
6. noun

   dignified manner or conduct
   synonyms: bearing, comportment, mien

   types:

   dignity, gravitas, lordliness

   formality in bearing and appearance

   type of:

   manner, personal manner

   a way of acting or behaving