presence

presence — noun

1. when a person, animal, or thing is physically there at a given location and mome

1.nounB2
Definition

when a person, animal, or thing is physically there at a given location and moment.

Example

The teacher noticed the presence of a stranger at the back of the classroom.

the presence of + noun

Maya felt nervous about speaking in the presence of her boss.

in the presence of + person

Common collocations
  • confirm the presence of
  • detect the presence of
  • in the presence of
  • require someone's presence
Synonyms
  • attendance

    more formal; specifically about being at an event

  • existence

    broader; not tied to a specific location

Antonyms
  • absence

    the direct opposite — not being there

Grammar Patterns

the presence of + noun

in someone's presence

Usage Note

Almost always preceded by 'the' or a possessive (his/her/their). Unlike a simple 'being there', this noun shifts the focus to the fact or effect of someone being in the place.

Common Mistakes

I felt presence of danger.
I felt the presence of danger.
needs 'the' or a possessive before 'presence'.
She was in presence of the queen.
She was in the presence of the queen.
the fixed phrase is 'in the presence of'.

2. an unseen being, often the spirit of someone who has died, that you sense is clo

2.nounC2
Definition

an unseen being, often the spirit of someone who has died, that you sense is close to you in a place.

Example

Lina swore she could feel her grandmother's presence in the old kitchen.

feel + possessive + presence

Visitors to the abandoned chapel often report a strange presence near the altar.

Common collocations
  • feel a presence
  • sense a presence
  • ghostly presence
  • unseen presence
Synonyms
  • spirit

    more direct; names the entity rather than the feeling

  • ghost

    stronger; suggests a visible or named dead person

Grammar Patterns

sense/feel a presence

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense refers to the felt spirit itself, not the act of being there. Often appears with verbs of perception (feel, sense) and adjectives like 'strange', 'unseen', 'ghostly'.

Common Mistakes

I saw a presence in the corner.
I sensed a presence in the corner.
by definition this presence is unseen; pair it with 'feel' or 'sense'.

3. a body of troops, police officers, or other officials stationed somewhere to kee

3.nounC2
Definition

a body of troops, police officers, or other officials stationed somewhere to keep order, monitor events, or show authority.

Example

There was a heavy police presence outside the stadium before the match.

heavy/strong + police/military presence

The UN maintained a peacekeeping presence in the region for over ten years.

maintain a presence

Common collocations
  • police presence
  • military presence
  • heavy presence
  • maintain a presence
  • online presence
Synonyms
  • deployment

    more formal; emphasises the act of sending troops

  • force

    narrower; refers to the troops themselves rather than their being there

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

[adjective] presence

maintain/withdraw a presence

Usage Note

Subject verbs are typically 'maintain', 'increase', 'reduce', 'withdraw'. Common adjectives: 'heavy', 'strong', 'visible', 'military', 'police', 'peacekeeping'. Often extended to corporate or online contexts (a strong online presence).

Common Mistakes

The police made a presence at the protest.
The police had a strong presence at the protest.
'have' or 'maintain', not 'make', for an organisational presence.

4. a calm, confident way of carrying yourself that draws attention and respect from

4.nounC2
Definition

a calm, confident way of carrying yourself that draws attention and respect from others, even before you say a word.

Example

The young actor had real presence the moment he walked onto the stage.

have + presence

Dr. Tanaka commanded the room with quiet authority and natural presence.

Common collocations
  • stage presence
  • commanding presence
  • have presence
  • natural presence
Synonyms
  • charisma

    stronger; emphasises personal magnetism

  • poise

    narrower; focuses on calm self-control

  • bearing

    more formal; emphasises posture and manner

Grammar Patterns

have presence

stage presence

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense — 'a presence' here usually means a person who has this quality (e.g. 'she is a powerful presence in poetry'). Common compounds: 'stage presence', 'on-screen presence', 'commanding presence'.

Common Mistakes

He has many presences on stage.
He has great presence on stage.
uncountable; do not pluralise.
Idioms

make your presence felt

idiom

to behave or perform in a way that makes other people clearly notice you and feel your influence.

The new coach made his presence felt during the first week of training.

Lina made her presence felt at the meeting by asking sharp questions.

in the presence of

idiom

with someone else watching or close by, especially someone important or official.

The will was read in the presence of the whole family.

Carlos refused to discuss the deal in the presence of strangers.

in the presence of something

idiom

When a particular substance or condition exists in a place.

The chemical changes color in the presence of oxygen.

In the presence of sunlight, the plant produces food quickly.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe something being in a place or situation, but they differ in focus. 'Presence' is the everyday word for the simple fact that a person or thing is there, and it often carries weight beyond mere physical location — Maya feeling tense 'in her boss's presence' is about the social effect, not just geography. 'Attendance' is narrower and more formal: it counts who showed up at a planned event (a wedding, a class, a meeting). 'Existence' is broader and more abstract — it asks whether something is real anywhere in the world, not whether it is here right now. 'Occurrence' shifts attention to events rather than entities: an occurrence happens, while a presence simply is. So we say 'the presence of bacteria in the sample', 'attendance at the lecture was poor', 'the existence of life on Mars', and 'a rare occurrence of snow in April'.

presence ↗attendance ↗existence ↗occurrence ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • police presence
  • military presence
  • stage presence
  • online presence
  • presence of mind

Adverbs

Phrases

  • make one's presence felt
  • grace someone with one's presence
  • request the presence of

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Borrowed into English in the 14th century from Old French 'presence', which came from Latin 'praesentia' meaning 'a being before, a being at hand'. The Latin form is built from 'prae-' ('before, in front of') and 'esse' ('to be'), so the literal sense is 'being in front of someone'. The 'felt spirit' meaning developed later in religious and supernatural writing, while the 'personal aura' sense grew out of court language describing how a person carried themselves before royalty.