Presence means being in a particular place, or the quality of making a strong impression when you're there. When a teacher takes attendance, she's checking everyone's presence in the classroom. When your aunt visits from across the country, you enjoy her presence at family dinner.

Presence also describes a powerful quality that makes others notice and pay attention when you enter a room. A talented actor commands the audience's attention with stage presence. A confident speaker has a strong presence that keeps people listening. Your soccer coach might have a presence that immediately makes the team focus and work harder.

You can also feel someone's presence without seeing them, like sensing that your older brother is standing behind you even before you turn around. When you're really concentrating during a piano recital or championship game, you might not even notice other people's presence because you're so focused.

The opposite is being absent. Someone might be physically in a room but seem to have no presence if they're very quiet or blend into the background. Great leaders, performers, and teachers develop a strong presence that inspires and influences others naturally.