Gift vs. Present
The main difference between the gift and the present is that the gift refers to natural ability or talent given in an informal way and present refers to the act of giving or an award which is given formally or ceremonially.
Key Differences
The gift is a thing given willingly to someone without payment on the flip side. The verb present is to introduce someone to anyone else formally or to give a gift in a formal situation.
Aimie Carlson
Jul 10, 2019
Gifts may also apply to a wide range of situations in referring to abilities and talents while present may also refer to a moment in time and the act of being present.
The gift is the act of giving a gift on the other hand present is the act of giving something formally or ceremonially.
The gift is a natural ability or talent whereas present does not refer to natural talent.
Gift can be concrete or abstract, i.e., a birthday gift or gift of voice by God conversely present is typically concrete, i.e. a birthday present or a Christmas present.
Comparison Chart
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A natural ability or talent gave in an informal way
The act of giving or an award which is given formally or ceremonially
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Etymology
Middle English: from Old Norse gift
Middle English: from Old French
Usage
Formal
Informal
Way of Giving
Informal
Formal
Passes From
High to low
Low to high
Gift and Present Definitions
Gift
Something that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation
I received several gifts for my birthday. Your gift of $100 is greatly appreciated.
Present
A moment or period in time perceptible as intermediate between past and future; now.
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Gift
The act of giving
The painting came into their possession by gift.
Present
The present tense.
Gift
A talent, endowment, aptitude, or inclination
She has a gift for playing the piano.
Present
A verb form in the present tense.
Gift
To present something as a gift to
Gifted his niece with a watch.
Present
Presents(Law) The document or instrument in question
Be it known by these presents.
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Gift
To give as a gift
"King Charles II ... had gifted the land of Carolina to certain members of his court" (Marilyn Yalom).
Present
Pres·ent (prĕzənt) Something presented; a gift.
Gift
To endow with
Nature has gifted her with a fine voice.
Present
Pre·sent (prĭ-zĕnt) The position of a rifle or other weapon when presented.
Gift
Something given to another voluntarily, without charge.
Present
Existing or happening now; current
The present leader.
Present trends.
Gift
A talent or natural ability.
She had a gift for playing the flute.
Present
Being at hand or in attendance
Thirty guests were present at the ceremony.
Gift
Something gained incidentally, without effort.
Present
Existing in something specified
Oxygen is present in the bloodstream.
Gift
The act, right, or power of giving or bestowing.
The office is in the gift of the President.
Present
Now being considered; actually here or involved
The present subject.
Present company excepted.
Gift
(transitive) To give as a gift or donation.
Present
(Grammar) Designating a verb tense or form that expresses current time.
Gift
(transitive) To give away, to concede easily.
Present
(Archaic) Readily available; immediate.
Gift
Anything given; anything voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation; a present; an offering.
Shall I receive by gift, what of my own, . . .I can command ?
Present
(Obsolete) Alert to circumstances; attentive.
Gift
The act, right, or power of giving or bestowing; as, the office is in the gift of the President.
Present
To make a gift or award of
Presented the medal to the winner.
Gift
A bribe; anything given to corrupt.
Neither take a gift, for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise.
Present
To make a gift to
Presented the winner with a medal.
Gift
Some exceptional inborn quality or characteristic; a striking or special talent or aptitude; power; faculty; as, the gift of wit; a gift for speaking.
Present
To offer for observation, examination, or consideration; show or display
The detective presented his badge.
Gift
A voluntary transfer of real or personal property, without any consideration. It can be perfected only by deed, or in case of personal property, by an actual delivery of possession.
Present
To offer (a play, for example) for public entertainment.
Gift
To endow with some power or faculty. See gift{4}.
He was gifted . . . with philosophical sagacity.
Present
To afford or furnish
The situation presented us with a chance to improve our knowledge.
Gift
Something acquired without compensation
Present
To turn or position in the direction of another
Presented his face to the camera.
Gift
Natural qualities or talents
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.
Gift
The act of giving
Present
To represent or depict in a certain manner
The movie presents bankers as greedy and coldhearted.
Gift
Give qualities or abilities to
Present
To introduce, especially with formal ceremony.
Gift
Give as a present; make a gift of;
What will you give her for her birthday?
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
Gift vs. Present
Gift refers to something that is given voluntarily and willingly to another person. It is a thing given voluntarily to someone without payment and compensation. Present refers to bringing something to a person, i.e., presenting them with any reward or another thing. A gift is likely to be much more valuable and usually passes from the high to the low, from the rich to the poor. A present, however, passes between equals or from the inferior to the superior. Gift generally has a formal implication than the present. Also, it refers to natural ability, or a miracle like the gift of gab, a gifted artist, and even the gift of life. The term present has an informal implication. It often refers to the humble, simpler or material gifts. Gifts are typically associated with “give gifts” because gifts have become more widely known as something given freely with no restrictions. Presents are usually associated with “receive presents” because they are linked to presentations. Gifts may apply to a wide range of situation, and the word is also used in abstract terms to refer to abilities and talents. Present may refer to a moment in time and the act of being present. The word gift is used with the inherent talent or skill that one has. As God is believed to have given/gifted us these things. Gift applies to a wider range of situations, talents or intangible things. Presents are more concrete and presentable, e.g., medals, birthday presents, trophies, etc.
What is Gift?
The gift comes from the old Germanic root which means “to give.” The present comes from the French for “to present.” A gift is something given willingly and voluntarily to someone without payment. The gift is synonymous with present and reward. Gift can be an attributive noun, acting as an adjective to modify another noun. The gift also refers to natural ability or talent. Gifts also refer to the presents you give to your friends and family as well as donations and rewards you give to charity. It is something that is bestowed willingly without compensation.
Examples
- He gave her a diamond ring as an anniversary gift.
- the gift of healing people
- Picasso had the gift of painting
What is Present?
A present refers to only practical and tangible things that are bestowed formally. It is something that you want the recipient to have. The term ‘present’ is originated from an old French phrase which translates to English as ‘put a thing into the presence of a person.’ So every definition associated with the word present can be traced back to this original definition of bringing something to a person. The present is more casual sounding than a gift. Presents have greater potential for inspiring new thoughts and broadening the horizons. The present does not describe other nouns. We have gift cards, gift boxes, and gift wrap, not present cards, present boxes, and present wrap. However, the noun present does not refer to a natural talent or ability. The verb present means to give or award ceremonially or formally.
Examples
- The minister will present the prizes.
- He has presented a trophy for his first position.
