Present vs. Absent: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 12, 2023
"Lavish" describes abundance or extravagance, while "Frugal" denotes simplicity and economy in spending or use
Key Differences
At the heart of the terms Lavish and Frugal lies the concept of expenditure and consumption. Lavish typically embodies abundance, luxury, or even excessiveness in spending or usage. On the opposite spectrum, Frugal represents economy, careful use of resources, and often, minimalism.
In societal contexts, a Lavish lifestyle might involve grand parties, opulent homes, and frequent indulgences without concern for cost. A Frugal lifestyle, contrastingly, emphasizes saving, being resourceful, and avoiding unnecessary expenses. Such a person might prioritize needs over wants and seek value in purchases.
The terms Lavish and Frugal can also be applied to non-monetary scenarios. For instance, one might use words Lavishly in a verbose manner, whereas another might be Frugal with words, opting for brevity. Here, Lavishness denotes abundance in expression, and Frugality signifies restraint.
Describing events, a Lavish ceremony could feature elaborate decorations, extensive guest lists, and gourmet food. Conversely, a Frugal event might prioritize essentials, forgoing extravagances, keeping things simple and cost-effective.
Lavish and Frugal are, in essence, polar opposites when discussing allocation or use of resources, be it time, money, or even emotions. Where Lavish goes big, bold, and often beyond necessity, Frugal stays restrained, resourceful, and reasoned.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Abundant or extravagant
Economical in spending or use
Associated with
Luxury, excessiveness
Simplicity, thriftiness
Usage in context
Often indicates opulence
Indicates careful use of resources
Typical behavior
Spending without much concern
Prioritizing needs over wants
Resource allocation
More is better
Less is more
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Present and Absent Definitions
Present
Expended in abundance.
He threw a lavish party for his daughter's wedding.
Absent
Reflecting careful use of resources.
Her frugal meal consisted of basic essentials.
Present
Marked by excess.
He led a lavish lifestyle with numerous vacations.
Absent
Not wasteful.
Being frugal, he always repaired instead of replacing.
Present
Given without restraint.
She had a lavish hand when it came to charity.
Absent
Characterized by economy in expenditure.
He lived a frugal life, saving most of his income.
Present
A moment or period in time perceptible as intermediate between past and future; now.
Absent
Cost-effective and economical.
Their frugal approach helped them retire early.
Present
The present tense.
Absent
Simple and plain.
She wore frugal clothes, avoiding flashy brands.
Present
A verb form in the present tense.
Absent
Not present; missing
Absent friends.
Absent parents.
Present
Presents(Law) The document or instrument in question
Be it known by these presents.
Absent
Not existent; lacking
A country in which morality is absent.
Present
Pres·ent (prĕzənt) Something presented; a gift.
Absent
Exhibiting or feeling inattentiveness
An absent nod.
Present
Pre·sent (prĭ-zĕnt) The position of a rifle or other weapon when presented.
Absent
To keep (oneself) away
They absented themselves from the debate.
Present
Existing or happening now; current
The present leader.
Present trends.
Absent
Without
"Absent a legislative fix, this is an invitation for years of litigation" (Brian E. O'Neill).
Present
Being at hand or in attendance
Thirty guests were present at the ceremony.
Absent
(not comparable) Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present; missing.
Present
Existing in something specified
Oxygen is present in the bloodstream.
Absent
(not comparable) Not existing; lacking.
The part was rudimental or absent.
Present
Now being considered; actually here or involved
The present subject.
Present company excepted.
Absent
(comparable) Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied.
Present
(Grammar) Designating a verb tense or form that expresses current time.
Absent
(with definite article) Something absent, especially absent people collectively; those who were or are not there.
Present
(Archaic) Readily available; immediate.
Absent
An absentee; a person who is not there.
Present
(Obsolete) Alert to circumstances; attentive.
Absent
In the absence of; without; except.
Absent taxes modern governments cannot function.
Present
To make a gift or award of
Presented the medal to the winner.
Absent
(reflexive) To keep (oneself) away.
Most of the men are retired, jobless, or have otherwise temporarily absented themselves from the workplace.
Present
To make a gift to
Presented the winner with a medal.
Absent
To keep (someone) away.
Present
To offer for observation, examination, or consideration; show or display
The detective presented his badge.
Absent
Stay away; withdraw.
Present
To offer (a play, for example) for public entertainment.
Absent
Leave.
Present
To afford or furnish
The situation presented us with a chance to improve our knowledge.
Absent
Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present.
Present
To turn or position in the direction of another
Presented his face to the camera.
Absent
Not existing; lacking; as, the part was rudimental or absent.
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.
Absent
Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied; as, an absent air.
What is commonly called an absent man is commonly either a very weak or a very affected man.
Present
To represent or depict in a certain manner
The movie presents bankers as greedy and coldhearted.
Absent
To take or withdraw (one's self) to such a distance as to prevent intercourse; - used with the reflexive pronoun.
If after due summons any member absents himself, he is to be fined.
Present
To introduce, especially with formal ceremony.
Absent
To withhold from being present.
Present
To introduce (a young woman) to society with conventional ceremony.
Absent
Go away or leave;
He absented himself
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.
Absent
Not in a specified place physically or mentally
Present
(Ecclesiastical) To recommend (a cleric) for a benefice.
Absent
Lost in thought; showing preoccupation;
An absent stare
An absentminded professer
The scatty glancing quality of a hyperactive but unfocused intelligence
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
Immoderate in giving or bestowing.
She received lavish praise for her performance.
Present
Having a rich or expensive quality.
The hotel offered lavish accommodations.
FAQs
Can a celebration be both Lavish and Frugal?
It's unlikely, as the terms are opposites, but one could have lavish elements in a generally frugal event.
Can a person be both Lavish and Frugal at different times?
Yes, someone can be Lavish on certain occasions and Frugal on others.
How can one practice Frugal living?
By budgeting, seeking value in purchases, and prioritizing needs over wants.
Is Frugal the same as cheap?
No, Frugal implies wise spending, whereas cheap might imply low quality.
How is Lavish used in literature?
Lavish is often used to describe grand settings, abundant emotions, or opulent lifestyles.
Can a Lavish lifestyle lead to financial problems?
If unchecked, yes. Excessive spending without means can lead to debt.
Do Lavish and Frugal represent similar concepts?
No, Lavish implies extravagance, while Frugal suggests economy.
Is being Frugal always beneficial?
Generally, it's seen as financially wise, but excessive frugality can lead to missed experiences.
How does society view Lavish and Frugal behaviors?
Views vary, but Lavishness might be seen as ostentatious while Frugality as wise or, at times, overly cautious.
Does Lavish always indicate wastefulness?
Not necessarily, but it often implies an abundance or excess.
Are there any downsides to a Frugal lifestyle?
If taken to an extreme, one might miss out on experiences or be perceived as stingy.
What's a common misconception about Frugal people?
That they're stingy or don't enjoy life, when they might just prioritize long-term value.
Can one be Lavish in love but Frugal in spending?
Absolutely. One can be generous with emotions but economical with money.
Can a Frugal person enjoy vacations?
Yes, they might just opt for budget-friendly or value-driven travel options.
Are Lavish gifts always expensive?
Often they are, but "Lavish" can also refer to the thoughtfulness, time, or effort involved.
Does being Frugal mean living without luxury?
Often, yes. Frugality emphasizes needs and value over luxury.
Are Lavish homes always big?
Not always. A small home can be lavish if it's decorated opulently or has luxurious amenities.
Is Frugal living the same as minimalist living?
They're related but not the same. Frugality is about economical use, while minimalism focuses on having fewer possessions.
Can Lavishness ever be a virtue?
In contexts like hospitality or generosity, being Lavish can be seen positively.
Can businesses operate on Lavish principles?
Some luxury brands or high-end services operate on delivering Lavish experiences to clients.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
