presence

noun

/ˈprez.əns/

Definition

1. Definition

2. Practise

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.PresentAvailable and accessibleUnavailable and inaccessible 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.Non-existence and not beingStrange, suspicious and unnatural 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.PresentAvailable and accessibleUnavailable and inaccessible 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.Behaving, interacting and behaviour

(Definition of presence noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Browse related topics

You are looking at an entry to do with Strange, suspicious and unnatural, but you might be interested in these topics from the General and specific topic area: