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presentation

Definition of presentation

  • fairing [ British ]
  • freebee
  • largess

Examples of presentation in a Sentence

Word history.

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing presentation

  • breech presentation

Dictionary Entries Near presentation

present arms

presentation copy

Cite this Entry

“Presentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presentation. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of presentation, medical definition, medical definition of presentation, more from merriam-webster on presentation.

Nglish: Translation of presentation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of presentation for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about presentation

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Business Jargons

A Business Encyclopedia

Presentation

Definition : A presentation is a form of communication in which the speaker conveys information to the audience. In an organization presentations are used in various scenarios like talking to a group, addressing a meeting, demonstrating or introducing a new product, or briefing a team. It involves presenting a particular subject or issue or new ideas/thoughts to a group of people.

It is considered as the most effective form of communication because of two main reasons:

  • Use of non-verbal cues.
  • Facilitates instant feedback.

presentation

Business Presentations are a tool to influence people toward an intended thought or action.

Parts of Presentation

structure-of-presentation

  • Introduction : It is meant to make the listeners ready to receive the message and draw their interest. For that, the speaker can narrate some story or a humorous piece of joke, an interesting fact, a question, stating a problem, and so forth. They can also use some surprising statistics.
  • Body : It is the essence of the presentation. It requires the sequencing of facts in a logical order. This is the part where the speaker explains the topic and relevant information. It has to be critically arranged, as the audience must be able to grasp what the speaker presents.
  • Conclusion : It needs to be short and precise. It should sum up or outline the key points that you have presented. It could also contain what the audience should have gained out of the presentation.

Purpose of Presentation

  • To inform : Organizations can use presentations to inform the audience about new schemes, products or proposals. The aim is to inform the new entrant about the policies and procedures of the organization.
  • To persuade : Presentations are also given to persuade the audience to take the intended action.
  • To build goodwill : They can also help in building a good reputation

Factors Affecting Presentation

factors-affecting-presentation

Audience Analysis

Communication environment, personal appearance, use of visuals, opening and closing presentation, organization of presentation, language and words, voice quality, body language, answering questions, a word from business jargons.

Presentation is a mode of conveying information to a selected group of people live. An ideal presentation is one that identifies and matches the needs, interests and understanding level of the audience. It also represents the facts, and figures in the form of tables, charts, and graphs and uses multiple colours.

Related terms:

  • Verbal Communication
  • Visual Communication
  • Non-Verbal Communication
  • Communication
  • 7 C’s of Communication

Reader Interactions

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October 2, 2022 at 11:33 pm

Thank you so much for providing us with brief info related to the presentation.

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February 23, 2023 at 9:45 am

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July 3, 2023 at 2:04 am

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SkillsYouNeed

  • PRESENTATION SKILLS

What is a Presentation?

Search SkillsYouNeed:

Presentation Skills:

  • A - Z List of Presentation Skills
  • Top Tips for Effective Presentations
  • General Presentation Skills
  • Preparing for a Presentation
  • Organising the Material
  • Writing Your Presentation
  • Deciding the Presentation Method
  • Managing your Presentation Notes
  • Working with Visual Aids
  • Presenting Data
  • Managing the Event
  • Coping with Presentation Nerves
  • Dealing with Questions
  • How to Build Presentations Like a Consultant
  • 7 Qualities of Good Speakers That Can Help You Be More Successful
  • Self-Presentation in Presentations
  • Specific Presentation Events
  • Remote Meetings and Presentations
  • Giving a Speech
  • Presentations in Interviews
  • Presenting to Large Groups and Conferences
  • Giving Lectures and Seminars
  • Managing a Press Conference
  • Attending Public Consultation Meetings
  • Managing a Public Consultation Meeting
  • Crisis Communications
  • Elsewhere on Skills You Need:
  • Communication Skills
  • Facilitation Skills
  • Teams, Groups and Meetings
  • Effective Speaking
  • Question Types

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The formal presentation of information is divided into two broad categories: Presentation Skills and Personal Presentation .

These two aspects are interwoven and can be described as the preparation, presentation and practice of verbal and non-verbal communication. 

This article describes what a presentation is and defines some of the key terms associated with presentation skills.

Many people feel terrified when asked to make their first public talk.  Some of these initial fears can be reduced by good preparation that also lays the groundwork for making an effective presentation.

A Presentation Is...

A presentation is a means of communication that can be adapted to various speaking situations, such as talking to a group, addressing a meeting or briefing a team.

A presentation can also be used as a broad term that encompasses other ‘speaking engagements’ such as making a speech at a wedding, or getting a point across in a video conference.

To be effective, step-by-step preparation and the method and means of presenting the information should be carefully considered. 

A presentation requires you to get a message across to the listeners and will often contain a ' persuasive ' element. It may, for example, be a talk about the positive work of your organisation, what you could offer an employer, or why you should receive additional funding for a project.

The Key Elements of a Presentation

Making a presentation is a way of communicating your thoughts and ideas to an audience and many of our articles on communication are also relevant here, see: What is Communication? for more.

Consider the following key components of a presentation:

Ask yourself the following questions to develop a full understanding of the context of the presentation.

When and where will you deliver your presentation?

There is a world of difference between a small room with natural light and an informal setting, and a huge lecture room, lit with stage lights. The two require quite different presentations, and different techniques.

Will it be in a setting you are familiar with, or somewhere new?

If somewhere new, it would be worth trying to visit it in advance, or at least arriving early, to familiarise yourself with the room.

Will the presentation be within a formal or less formal setting?

A work setting will, more or less by definition, be more formal, but there are also various degrees of formality within that.

Will the presentation be to a small group or a large crowd?

Are you already familiar with the audience?

With a new audience, you will have to build rapport quickly and effectively, to get them on your side.

What equipment and technology will be available to you, and what will you be expected to use?

In particular, you will need to ask about microphones and whether you will be expected to stand in one place, or move around.

What is the audience expecting to learn from you and your presentation?

Check how you will be ‘billed’ to give you clues as to what information needs to be included in your presentation.

All these aspects will change the presentation. For more on this, see our page on Deciding the Presentation Method .

The role of the presenter is to communicate with the audience and control the presentation.

Remember, though, that this may also include handing over the control to your audience, especially if you want some kind of interaction.

You may wish to have a look at our page on Facilitation Skills for more.

The audience receives the presenter’s message(s).

However, this reception will be filtered through and affected by such things as the listener’s own experience, knowledge and personal sense of values.

See our page: Barriers to Effective Communication to learn why communication can fail.

The message or messages are delivered by the presenter to the audience.

The message is delivered not just by the spoken word ( verbal communication ) but can be augmented by techniques such as voice projection, body language, gestures, eye contact ( non-verbal communication ), and visual aids.

The message will also be affected by the audience’s expectations. For example, if you have been billed as speaking on one particular topic, and you choose to speak on another, the audience is unlikely to take your message on board even if you present very well . They will judge your presentation a failure, because you have not met their expectations.

The audience’s reaction and therefore the success of the presentation will largely depend upon whether you, as presenter, effectively communicated your message, and whether it met their expectations.

As a presenter, you don’t control the audience’s expectations. What you can do is find out what they have been told about you by the conference organisers, and what they are expecting to hear. Only if you know that can you be confident of delivering something that will meet expectations.

See our page: Effective Speaking for more information.

How will the presentation be delivered?

Presentations are usually delivered direct to an audience.  However, there may be occasions where they are delivered from a distance over the Internet using video conferencing systems, such as Skype.

It is also important to remember that if your talk is recorded and posted on the internet, then people may be able to access it for several years. This will mean that your contemporaneous references should be kept to a minimum.

Impediments

Many factors can influence the effectiveness of how your message is communicated to the audience.

For example background noise or other distractions, an overly warm or cool room, or the time of day and state of audience alertness can all influence your audience’s level of concentration.

As presenter, you have to be prepared to cope with any such problems and try to keep your audience focussed on your message.   

Our page: Barriers to Communication explains these factors in more depth.

Continue to read through our Presentation Skills articles for an overview of how to prepare and structure a presentation, and how to manage notes and/or illustrations at any speaking event.

Continue to: Preparing for a Presentation Deciding the Presentation Method

See also: Writing Your Presentation | Working with Visual Aids Coping with Presentation Nerves | Dealing with Questions Learn Better Presentation Skills with TED Talks

Cambridge Dictionary

  • Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of presentation in English

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presentation noun ( EVENT )

  • talk She will give a talk on keeping kids safe on the internet.
  • lecture The lecture is entitled "War and the Modern American Presidency."
  • presentation We were given a presentation of progress made to date.
  • speech You might have to make a speech when you accept the award.
  • address He took the oath of office then delivered his inaugural address.
  • oration It was to become one of the most famous orations in American history.
  • The presentation was a collaborative effort by all the children in the class .
  • The charity invited the press to a presentation of its plans for the future .
  • The magazine asked its readers to send in their comments about the new style of presentation.
  • Jenny's retiring and I think there's going to be a small presentation this afternoon .
  • Graduates must be in full academic dress at the presentation of certificates .
  • call for papers
  • maiden speech
  • public speaking
  • talk at someone phrasal verb

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

presentation noun ( APPEARANCE )

  • adverse conditions
  • have it in you idiom
  • stock-in-trade
  • unaffiliated
  • undercurrent

presentation | Intermediate English

Presentation | business english, examples of presentation, collocations with presentation, presentation.

These are words often used in combination with presentation .

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Translations of presentation

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Definition of 'presentation'

  • presentation

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presentation in British English

Presentation in american english, examples of 'presentation' in a sentence presentation, cobuild collocations presentation, trends of presentation.

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Related terms of presentation

  • award presentation
  • brief presentation
  • medal presentation
  • oral presentation
  • View more related words

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Definition of presentation noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

presentation

  • presentation on/about somebody/something The sales manager will give a presentation on the new products.
  • Several speakers will be making short presentations .
  • The conference will begin with a keynote presentation by a leading industry figure.
  • a slide/video/multimedia presentation
  • presentation on

Join our community to access the latest language learning and assessment tips from Oxford University Press!

  • The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court.
  • The presentation of prizes began after the speeches.
  • The Mayor will make the presentation (= hand over the gift) herself.
  • on presentation of something Members will be admitted on presentation of a membership card.
  • a presentation copy (= a free book given by the author or publisher )
  • a presentation ceremony/evening
  • presentation to
  • Improving the product's presentation (= the way it is wrapped, advertised, etc.) should increase sales.
  • I admire the clear, logical presentation of her arguments.
  • The main emphasis of the training will be on presentation skills .
  • I've put my presentation on a memory stick.
  • the school's annual presentation evening
  • [countable] a performance of a play, etc. in a theatre
  • [countable, uncountable] ( medical ) the position in which a baby is lying in the mother’s body just before birth

Nearby words

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VIDEO

  1. Har ghadi badal rahi hai- Arun Rao(Orig.: Sonu Nigam),09.10.24

  2. Shola jo bhadke-cover-Arun Rao & Vaishali (Orig: C Ramchandra ji & Lataji, Mus:C Ramchandra),22.2.24

  3. Kaisa lagta hai, accha

  4. Chalti chali jaye- Arun Rao (Orig.: Hemant Kumar, Music:Kishore Kumar),25.09.24

  5. Koi roko na, Diwane ko-Arun Rao(Orig.: Kishore Kumar),23.10.24

  6. Chand ko kya malum- Arun Rao (Orig.: Mukeshji), 16.10.24

COMMENTS

  1. Presentation Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

    The meaning of PRESENTATION is the act of presenting. How to use presentation in a sentence.

  2. What is Presentation? Definition, Parts and Factors ...

    Definition: A presentation is a form of communication in which the speaker conveys information to the audience. In an organization presentations are used in various scenarios like talking to a group, addressing a meeting, demonstrating or introducing a new product, or briefing a team.

  3. What is a Presentation? - Presentation Skills | SkillsYouNeed

    A presentation is a means of communication that can be adapted to various speaking situations, such as talking to a group, addressing a meeting or briefing a team. A presentation can also be used as a broad term that encompasses other ‘speaking engagements’ such as making a speech at a wedding, or getting a point across in a video conference.

  4. What Is a Presentation? Everything You Need To Know

    A presentation is a communication method for delivering information to an audience. It typically involves a demonstration, illustration, or speech crafted to inform, persuade, inspire, or share a new idea. Presentations require every speaker to deliver their message with compelling elements.

  5. Meaning of presentation in English - Cambridge Dictionary

    PRESENTATION meaning: 1. a talk giving information about something: 2. an occasion when prizes, qualifications, etc. are…. Learn more.

  6. PRESENTATION Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com

    noun. the act of presenting or state of being presented. the manner of presenting, esp the organization of visual details to create an overall impression. the presentation of the project is excellent but the content poor. the method of presenting. his presentation of the facts was muddled.

  7. Presentation - Wikipedia

    A presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product. [1]

  8. PRESENTATION definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

    A presentation is something that is performed in front of an audience, for example a play or a ballet.

  9. Presentation - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

    noun. a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view. “the presentation of new data”. synonyms: demonstration, presentment. see more. the act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment. presentation of an example of what the lecturer is discoursing about.

  10. presentation noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and ...

    presentation. noun. OPAL W. /ˌpreznˈteɪʃn/. /ˌpriːznˈteɪʃn/. [countable] a meeting at which something, especially a new product or idea, or piece of work, is shown to a group of people. presentation on/about somebody/something The sales manager will give a presentation on the new products.