Words / B2

PREZNS/ˈprezns/

Presence is being there, or a noticeable manner: in the presence of; stage presence. Absence is the opposite. The presence of a reader must be logged. Mix-up: presents are gifts; present is now or a gift (already in the dictionary). Do not write “a presence of” for a crowd count.

Meaning

The fact of being in a place; also a noticeable quality a person has.

Examples

• “The presence of a reader must be logged on the attendance register.”
• “The speaker’s presence held the hall, which is the manner sense.”

Good to know

in the presence of; someone’s presence. Opposite: absence. Trap: present / presents. Registers, law, and performance. Being there, not a gift.

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