Meaning & use
presentation
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Meanings
nouncountable
A talk, often with slides, in which someone shows or explains an idea, product or result to a group.
Grammar: Usually take a verb like give or make: give a presentation.
Patterns
- give a presentation on something
- a presentation to someone
She gave a presentation on the new sales figures.
The students prepared a presentation for the whole class.
His presentation included a short video.
noununcountable
The way in which something is arranged, shown or explained, which affects how people see it.
Grammar: Usually without an or an: the presentation of the food.
Patterns
- the presentation of something
The presentation of the dishes was beautiful.
Good presentation can make a report easier to read.
The restaurant takes great care over presentation.
nouncountableformal
The act of formally giving something to someone, such as a prize.
Grammar: Often followed by of: the presentation of the awards.
Patterns
- the presentation of something to someone
- a presentation ceremony
The mayor attended the presentation of the medals.
A short presentation was held to honor the retiring principal.
The presentation of the trophy drew loud applause.
Word forms
| plural | presentations |
|---|
Common combinations
- give a presentation
- I have to give a presentation on Friday.
- a slide presentation
- He used a slide presentation to show the data.
- deliver a presentation
- She delivered the presentation with confidence.
- a sales presentation
- The team rehearsed their sales presentation.
- presentation skills
- The course improves your presentation skills.
Synonyms and how they differ
- talk
- Talk is more casual and may not use slides, while presentation suggests planned visuals.
- demonstration
- A demonstration shows how something works in action, not just explains it.
- lecture
- A lecture is longer and aimed at teaching, whereas a presentation is often about selling or reporting.
- display
- A display is something laid out to be looked at, and may involve no speaking.
Word family
- present verb
- to show, give or introduce something
- presenter noun
- a person who presents a show or talk
- presentable adjective
- neat enough to be seen by others
- presentational adjective
- relating to the way something is presented
Commonly confused: presentation or present?
presentation vs present
Present as a noun can mean a gift or the current time. A presentation is a talk or the act of showing.
Practice
Our manager asked me to give a ___ about the new budget.
Choose one answer.
Give a presentation is the usual phrase. A presenter is the person speaking, presence means being there, and presently is an adverb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “presentation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.