Current vs. Present: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on September 27, 2023
"Current" refers to what is happening now or the flow of something, while "Present" denotes the actual time or a gift.
Key Differences
"Current" typically relates to the ongoing flow or what is contemporaneous. It has applications in various fields. For instance, in electricity, it represents the flow of charge. On the other hand, "Present" signifies the exact moment in time we're in, or it can also mean a gift.
"Current" events are those that are ongoing or recent. They're in the midst of happening or have just transpired. Conversely, when we speak of the "Present," we refer to the very moment we're existing in. If someone says "I am present," it means they are here and now.
A "current" trend or fashion represents what is popular or prevalent right now. It's the prevailing mode or style. Whereas if you're speaking about "present" in terms of time, you're talking about today, this minute. Moreover, if you were to gift someone something, you'd be giving them a "present."
In water bodies, the "current" refers to the flow or direction in which the water is moving. It's continuous and dynamic. The "Present," when discussed alongside, still pertains to the current time or can indicate the act of introducing someone or something.
In the finance world, "current" can depict something immediate, like a current asset or liability. These are items that are expected to be used up or paid off within a year. Meanwhile, if an asset or a performance is shown in its "present" value, it means the value of that future cash flow today.
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Comparison Chart
Temporal Context
Refers to ongoing or recent events
Pertains to the exact moment we are in
Electrical Context
Represents the flow of electric charge
Not applicable in this context
Gift Context
Not used in this context
Means a gift or something given
Water Context
Refers to the flow or direction of water
Not applicable in this context
Financial Context
Pertains to immediate financial elements, e.g., current asset
Relates to the value of a future cash flow today, e.g., present value
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Current and Present Definitions
Current
Ongoing or happening now.
The current situation is complicated.
Present
Pertaining to the current moment.
He is present in the meeting.
Current
The prevailing trend or fashion.
The current style is retro.
Present
To represent in words or show by one's actions.
The student will present their research.
Current
Belonging to the present time; present-day
Current events.
Current leaders.
My current address.
Present
A moment or period in time perceptible as intermediate between past and future; now.
Current
Being in progress now
Current negotiations.
Present
The present tense.
Current
Commonly accepted or used; prevalent
Current fashions.
Current technology.
Present
A verb form in the present tense.
Current
Passing from one to another; circulating, as money or a rumor
Current bills and coins.
Present
Presents(Law) The document or instrument in question
Be it known by these presents.
Current
Running; flowing.
Present
Pres·ent (prĕzənt) Something presented; a gift.
Current
A steady, smooth onward flow or movement
A current of air from a fan.
A current of spoken words.
Present
Pre·sent (prĭ-zĕnt) The position of a rifle or other weapon when presented.
Current
The part of a body of liquid or gas that has a continuous onward movement
Rowed out into the river's swift current.
Present
Existing or happening now; current
The present leader.
Present trends.
Current
A general tendency, movement, or course.
Present
Being at hand or in attendance
Thirty guests were present at the ceremony.
Current
A flow of electric charge.
Present
Existing in something specified
Oxygen is present in the bloodstream.
Current
The amount of electric charge flowing past a specified circuit point per unit time, usually expressed in amperes.
Present
Now being considered; actually here or involved
The present subject.
Present company excepted.
Current
The generally unidirectional movement of a gas or fluid.
Present
(Grammar) Designating a verb tense or form that expresses current time.
Current
The part of a fluid that moves continuously in a certain direction, especially (oceanography) nocap=a.
Present
(Archaic) Readily available; immediate.
Current
(electricity) the amount of electric charge flowing in each unit of time.
Present
(Obsolete) Alert to circumstances; attentive.
Current
A tendency or a course of events
Present
To make a gift or award of
Presented the medal to the winner.
Current
Existing or occurring at the moment.
Current events
Current leaders
Current negotiations
Present
To make a gift to
Presented the winner with a medal.
Current
Generally accepted, used, practiced, or prevalent at the moment.
Current affairs
Current bills and coins
Current fashions
Present
To offer for observation, examination, or consideration; show or display
The detective presented his badge.
Current
(India) Electric; of or relating to electricity.
Current bill
Current shock
Present
To offer (a play, for example) for public entertainment.
Current
(obsolete) Running or moving rapidly.
Present
To afford or furnish
The situation presented us with a chance to improve our knowledge.
Current
Running or moving rapidly.
Like the current fire, that rennethUpon a cord.
To chase a creature that was current thenIn these wild woods, the hart with golden horns.
Present
To turn or position in the direction of another
Presented his face to the camera.
Current
Now passing, as time; as, the current month.
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.
Current
Passing from person to person, or from hand to hand; circulating through the community; generally received; common; as, a current coin; a current report; current history.
That there was current money in Abraham's time is past doubt.
Your fire-new stamp of honor is scarce current.
His current value, which is less or more as men have occasion for him.
Present
To represent or depict in a certain manner
The movie presents bankers as greedy and coldhearted.
Current
Commonly estimated or acknowledged.
Present
To introduce, especially with formal ceremony.
Current
Fitted for general acceptance or circulation; authentic; passable.
O Buckingham, now do I play the touchTo try if thou be current gold indeed.
Present
To introduce (a young woman) to society with conventional ceremony.
Current
A flowing or passing; onward motion. Hence: A body of fluid moving continuously in a certain direction; a stream; esp., the swiftest part of it; as, a current of water or of air; that which resembles a stream in motion; as, a current of electricity.
Two such silver currents, when they join,Do glorify the banks that bound them in.
The surface of the ocean is furrowed by currents, whose direction . . . the navigator should know.
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.
Current
General course; ordinary procedure; progressive and connected movement; as, the current of time, of events, of opinion, etc.
Present
(Ecclesiastical) To recommend (a cleric) for a benefice.
Current
A flow of electricity through a conductor;
The current was measured in amperes
Present
To make a presentation.
Current
A steady flow (usually from natural causes);
The raft floated downstream on the current
He felt a stream of air
Present
To be evident or manifest. Used of a disease or condition
How Lyme disease presents in its later stages.
Current
Dominant course (suggestive of running water) of successive events or ideas;
Two streams of development run through American history
Stream of consciousness
The flow of thought
The current of history
Present
To exhibit symptoms or signs during a medical examination
The patient presented with headache and heel pain.
Current
Occurring in or belonging to the present time;
Current events
The current topic
Current negotiations
Current psychoanalytic theories
The ship's current position
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.
Current
A flow of water in a particular direction.
The river's current is strong today.
Present
Located in the immediate vicinity.
Is there a doctor present?
Several people were present when the event took place.
Current
The flow of electric charge.
The device needs a constant current to function.
Present
(obsolete) Having an immediate effect (of a medicine, poison etc.); fast-acting.
Current
Pertaining to immediate financial elements.
The company's current liabilities have increased.
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 formally or with a gesture.
She will present the award.
Present
A gift.
I got a lovely present for my birthday.
Present
Exhibiting or existing at this time.
The present data supports the theory.
FAQs
How is "Current" used in electrical contexts?
In electrical contexts, "Current" refers to the flow of electric charge.
Does "Current" ever mean a gift?
No, "Current" does not mean a gift. That's "Present."
Can "Present" relate to representation?
Yes, "Present" can mean to represent in words or show by one's actions.
Is "Present" always about now?
Mostly, but "Present" can also mean to show, introduce, or can refer to a gift.
Can "Current" refer to widespread trends?
Yes, "Current" can indicate widespread or prevailing trends or fashions.
What does "Current" mean in terms of time?
"Current" in terms of time refers to what is happening now or recently.
How is "Present" used in a temporal context?
In a temporal context, "Present" pertains to the current moment or today.
Is a river's "Current" about time?
No, a river's "Current" refers to the flow or direction of water.
How is "Present" different from "Past"?
"Present" pertains to the current moment, while "Past" relates to time that has already occurred.
Can "Present" mean a gift?
Yes, "Present" can also mean a gift or something given to someone.
How do you use "Present" to introduce someone?
"Present" can be used as a verb to introduce someone formally, e.g., "Let me present Dr. Smith."
What does "Current" indicate in finance?
"Current" in finance pertains to immediate financial elements, like current assets or liabilities.
Is "Current" fashion about past trends?
No, "Current" fashion refers to the prevailing or ongoing trends.
How do you use "Present" in the context of data or evidence?
"Present" can be used to exhibit or demonstrate data, e.g., "The research presents strong evidence."
Do "Current" and "Present" mean the same thing?
While both can relate to the now, "Current" often denotes flow or ongoing situations, while "Present" emphasizes the exact moment or a gift.
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
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
