Attendance vs. Present — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 30, 2023
"Attendance" refers to the act or instances of being present, while "Present" indicates the current existence or occurrence in a particular place.
Difference Between Attendance and Present
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Attendance" typically denotes the act of attending or being present at a location or event. In contrast, "Present" can be used as a verb, meaning to introduce or show, or as an adjective indicating that someone or something is currently at a specified location.
Educational institutions often use "Attendance" to track the number of days students participate in class. "Present" might be used on roll-call lists to signify which students are in the class on a particular day.
In formal meetings or events, "Attendance" might refer to the total number of participants, while an individual is marked as "Present" if they are there.
"Attendance" often carries the connotation of regularity or consistency in being present. "Present," on the other hand, primarily designates a state of being at a particular moment.
"Attendance" is more quantitative, suggesting a count or measure of presence over a period. In contrast, "Present" offers a more immediate, qualitative assertion of presence at a specific time.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun
Adjective (or verb, depending on context)
Contextual Usage
Refers to the act or frequency of being present
Indicates current existence in a particular place
Connotation
Implies regularity or consistency
Indicates a state of being at a specific time
Typical Settings
Schools, workplaces, events
Roll calls, introductions, current occurrences
Associated Actions
Taking attendance, marking attendance
Marking someone as present, showing, introducing
Compare with Definitions
Attendance
The number of people at an event.
The conference had an Attendance of over 5,000 people.
Present
Currently in a specific place.
Is Jake Present in today's meeting?
Attendance
A record of how often someone attends.
Her perfect Attendance at school earned her an award.
Present
Available at this moment.
The manager is not Present at his desk.
Attendance
Regular presence over a specific period.
His Attendance has been consistent throughout the year.
Present
To offer or provide.
She Presented her gift with a smile.
Attendance
The act of being present at a location.
His consistent Attendance at the gym is admirable.
Present
The present (or here and now) is the time that is associated with the events perceived directly and in the first time, not as a recollection (perceived more than once) or a speculation (predicted, hypothesis, uncertain). It is a period of time between the past and the future, and can vary in meaning from being an instant to a day or longer.
Attendance
Participation in a particular event or setting.
Attendance to the annual meeting is mandatory.
Present
A moment or period in time perceptible as intermediate between past and future; now.
Attendance
Attendance is the concept of people, individually or as a group, appearing at a location for a previously scheduled event. Measuring attendance is a significant concern for many organizations, which can use such information to gauge the effectiveness of their efforts and to plan for future efforts.
Present
The present tense.
Attendance
The action or state of going regularly to or being present at a place or event
My attendance at church was very patchy
Present
A verb form in the present tense.
Attendance
The act of attending.
Present
Presents(Law) The document or instrument in question
Be it known by these presents.
Attendance
The persons or number of persons that are present.
Present
Pres·ent (prĕzənt) Something presented; a gift.
Attendance
The frequency with which a person is present.
Present
Pre·sent (prĭ-zĕnt) The position of a rifle or other weapon when presented.
Attendance
The act of attending; the state of being present; presence.
Attendance at the meeting is required.
All those in attendance are to sign this slip.
Present
Existing or happening now; current
The present leader.
Present trends.
Attendance
The persons or number of persons present.
The class sat down so that the teacher could take attendance.
Present
Being at hand or in attendance
Thirty guests were present at the ceremony.
Attendance
The frequency with which one has been present for a regular activity or set of events.
John's attendance for the conventions was not good.
Present
Existing in something specified
Oxygen is present in the bloodstream.
Attendance
(obsolete) Attention paid to something; careful regard.
Present
Now being considered; actually here or involved
The present subject.
Present company excepted.
Attendance
Attention; regard; careful application.
Till I come, give attendance to reading.
Present
(Grammar) Designating a verb tense or form that expresses current time.
Attendance
The act of attending; state of being in waiting; service; ministry; the fact of being present; presence.
Constant attendance at church three times a day.
Present
(Archaic) Readily available; immediate.
Attendance
Waiting for; expectation.
Languishing attendance and expectation of death.
Present
(Obsolete) Alert to circumstances; attentive.
Attendance
The persons attending; a retinue; attendants.
If your stray attendance by yet lodged.
Present
To make a gift or award of
Presented the medal to the winner.
Attendance
The act of being present (at a meeting or event etc.)
Present
To make a gift to
Presented the winner with a medal.
Present
To offer for observation, examination, or consideration; show or display
The detective presented his badge.
Present
To offer (a play, for example) for public entertainment.
Present
To afford or furnish
The situation presented us with a chance to improve our knowledge.
Present
To turn or position in the direction of another
Presented his face to the camera.
Present
(Immunology) To display (an antigen) on the cell surface. Used especially of cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells, where the displayed antigen activates T cells as part of an immune response.
Present
To represent or depict in a certain manner
The movie presents bankers as greedy and coldhearted.
Present
To introduce, especially with formal ceremony.
Present
To introduce (a young woman) to society with conventional ceremony.
Present
To hold, carry, or point (a weapon) in a particular manner as a salutation or sign of honor, usually along the center axis of the body.
Present
(Ecclesiastical) To recommend (a cleric) for a benefice.
Present
To make a presentation.
Present
To be evident or manifest. Used of a disease or condition
How Lyme disease presents in its later stages.
Present
To exhibit symptoms or signs during a medical examination
The patient presented with headache and heel pain.
Present
Relating to now, for the time being; current.
The barbaric practice continues to the present day.
The present manager has been here longer than the last one.
Up to the present day.
The present manager has been here longer than the last one.
Up to the present day.
Present
Located in the immediate vicinity.
Is there a doctor present?
Several people were present when the event took place.
Present
(obsolete) Having an immediate effect (of a medicine, poison etc.); fast-acting.
Present
(obsolete) Not delayed; immediate; instant.
Present
(dated) Ready; quick in emergency.
A present wit
Present
(obsolete) Favorably attentive; propitious.
Present
Relating to something a person is referring to in the very context, with a deictic use similar to the demonstrative adjective this.
In the present study,
The present article,
The present results.
Present
Attentive; alert; focused.
Sorry, I was distracted just now, I'll try to be more present from now on.
Present
The current moment or period of time.
Present
(grammar) The present tense.
Present
A gift, especially one given for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, or any other special occasions.
Present
(military) The position of a soldier in presenting arms.
To stand at present
Present
To bring (someone) into the presence of (a person); to introduce formally.
To present an envoy to the king
Present
(transitive) To nominate (a member of the clergy) for an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.
Present
(transitive) To offer (a problem, complaint) to a court or other authority for consideration.
Present
To charge (a person) with a crime or accusation; to bring before court.
Present
(reflexive) To come forward, appear in a particular place or before a particular person, especially formally.
Present
(transitive) To put (something) forward in order for it to be seen; to show, exhibit.
Present
(transitive) To make clear to one's mind or intelligence; to put forward for consideration.
Present
(transitive) To put on, stage (a play etc.).
The theater is proud to present the Fearless Fliers.
Present
To point (a firearm) at something, to hold (a weapon) in a position ready to fire.
Present
(reflexive) To offer oneself for mental consideration; to occur to the mind.
Well, one idea does present itself.
Present
To come to the attention of medical staff, especially with a specific symptom.
The patient presented with insomnia.
Present
To appear (in a specific way) for delivery (of a fetus); to appear first at the mouth of the uterus during childbirth.
Present
To appear or represent oneself (as having a certain gender).
At that time, Elbe was presenting as a man.
Present
(transitive) To act as presenter on (a radio, television programme etc.).
Present
(transitive) To give a gift or presentation to (someone).
She was presented with an honorary degree for her services to entertainment.
Present
(transitive) To give (a gift or presentation) to someone; to bestow.
Present
(transitive) To deliver (something abstract) as though as a gift; to offer.
I presented my compliments to Lady Featherstoneshaw.
Present
(transitive) To hand over (a bill etc.) to be paid.
Present
To display one's female genitalia in a way that signals to others that one is ready for copulation. Also referred to as lordosis behaviour.
Present
(fandom slang) In omegaverse fiction, to have one's secondary sex (alpha, omega, or beta) become apparent, typically at puberty.
Present
Being at hand, within reach or call, within certain contemplated limits; - opposed to absent.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
Present
Now existing, or in process; begun but not ended; now in view, or under consideration; being at this time; not past or future; as, the present session of Congress; the present state of affairs; the present instance.
I'll bring thee to the present business
Present
Not delayed; immediate; instant; coincident.
An ambassador . . . desires a present audience.
Present
Ready; quick in emergency; as a present wit.
Present
Favorably attentive; propitious.
To find a god so present to my prayer.
Present
Present time; the time being; time in progress now, or at the moment contemplated; as, at this present.
Past and present, wound in one.
Present
Present letters or instrument, as a deed of conveyance, a lease, letter of attorney, or other writing; as in the phrase, " Know all men by these presents," that is, by the writing itself, " per has literas praesentes; " - in this sense, rarely used in the singular.
Present
A present tense, or the form of the verb denoting the present tense.
Present
Anything presented or given; a gift; a donative; as, a Christmas present.
Present
The position of a soldier in presenting arms; as, to stand at present.
Present
To bring or introduce into the presence of some one, especially of a superior; to introduce formally; to offer for acquaintance; as, to present an envoy to the king; (with the reciprocal pronoun) to come into the presence of a superior.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the lord.
Present
To exhibit or offer to view or notice; to lay before one's perception or cognizance; to set forth; to present a fine appearance.
Lectorides's memory is ever . . . presenting him with the thoughts of other persons.
Present
To pass over, esp. in a ceremonious manner; to give in charge or possession; to deliver; to make over.
So ladies in romance assist their knight,Present the spear, and arm him for the fight.
Present
To make a gift of; to bestow; to give, generally in a formal or ceremonious manner; to grant; to confer.
My last, least offering, I present thee now.
Present
Hence: To endow; to bestow a gift upon; to favor, as with a donation; also, to court by gifts.
Octavia presented the poet for him admirable elegy on her son Marcellus.
Present
To present; to personate.
Present
To nominate to an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.
The patron of a church may present his clerk to a parsonage or vicarage; that is, may offer him to the bishop of the diocese to be instituted.
Present
To nominate for support at a public school or other institution .
Present
To appear at the mouth of the uterus so as to be perceptible to the finger in vaginal examination; - said of a part of an infant during labor.
Present
The period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech;
That is enough for the present
He lives in the present with no thought of tomorrow
Present
Something presented as a gift;
His tie was a present from his wife
Present
A verb tense that expresses actions or states at the time of speaking
Present
Show or demonstrate something to an interested audience;
She shows her dogs frequently
We will demo the new software in Washington
Present
Bring forward and present to the mind;
We presented the arguments to him
We cannot represent this knowledge to our formal reason
Present
Perform (a play), especially on a stage;
We are going to stage `Othello'
Present
Hand over formally
Present
Introduce;
This poses an interesting question
Present
Give, especially as a reward;
Bestow honors and prizes at graduation
Present
Give as a present; make a gift of;
What will you give her for her birthday?
Present
Deliver (a speech, oration, or idea);
The commencement speaker presented a forceful speech that impressed the students
Present
Cause to come to know personally;
Permit me to acquaint you with my son
Introduce the new neighbors to the community
Present
Represent in a painting, drawing, sculpture, or verbally;
The father is portrayed as a good-looking man in this painting
Present
Present somebody with something, usually to accuse or criticize;
We confronted him with the evidence
He was faced with all the evidence and could no longer deny his actions
An enormous dilemma faces us
Present
Formally present a debutante, a representative of a country, etc.
Present
Recognize with a gesture prescribed by a miltary regulation; assume a prescribed position;
When the officers show up, the soldiers have to salute
Present
Temporal sense; intermediate between past and future; now existing or happening or in consideration;
The present leader
Articles for present use
The present topic
The present system
Present observations
Time past
His youth is past
This past Thursday
The past year
Present
Spatial sense; being or existing in a specified place;
The murderer is present in this room
Present at the wedding
Present at the creation
Present
To introduce or show something.
He will Present his findings tomorrow.
Present
The period that is currently occurring.
We need to focus on the Present moment.
Common Curiosities
Is "Attendance" only used in educational contexts?
No, it can be used in any context where presence is measured or noted.
Does "Present" always refer to a location?
No, it can also indicate the current time or act of introducing.
Can "Present" be used as a verb?
Yes, "Present" can mean to show or introduce something.
Is "Attendance" a countable noun?
Yes, you can refer to "Attendances" as instances of being present.
Is "Attendance" the same as being "Present"?
"Attendance" refers to the act or instances of being present, while "Present" signifies current existence in a location.
Is "Present" also a time tense?
Yes, like in "Present continuous tense."
Is "Present" always used as an adjective?
No, it can also be a verb, as in "to Present an idea."
What's the opposite of "Present"?
In many contexts, the opposite is "Absent."
Does "Present" always indicate physical presence?
Not necessarily. It can also mean to show or introduce something.
Does "Attendance" imply regularity?
Often, yes. It can suggest consistent presence over a period.
Can an event have high "Attendance"?
Yes, it means many people were present.
Can you "take" Attendance?
Yes, it means to record who is present.
Is every "Present" person counted in "Attendance"?
Typically, yes. If someone is "Present," they're included in the "Attendance" count.
Can "Present" mean a gift?
Yes, "Present" can also mean a gift or offering.
Which is more formal, "Attendance" or "Present"?
"Attendance" is typically more formal, used in structured settings.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
