Phrase guide

present continuous

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A tense that describes an ongoing action in the present. In English it is formed by use of a form of be with a present participle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 現在進行時 /现在进行时 (xiànzài jìnxíng shí) — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • Dutch: duurvorm onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (d.o.t.t.) — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • Finnish: kestopreesens — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • French: présent progressif — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • French: présent continu — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • German: Verlaufsform der Gegenwart — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • Hungarian: folyamatos jelen — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • Italian: presente progressivo — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • Japanese: 現在進行形 (shinkōkei) — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • Mongolian: одоо үргэлжлэх цаг (odoo ürgelžlex cag) — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • Polish: czas teraźniejszy ciągły — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • Portuguese: presente progressivo — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • Russian: настоя́щее продо́лженное вре́мя (nastojáščeje prodólžennoje vrémja) — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • Russian: настоя́щее дли́тельное вре́мя (nastojáščeje dlítelʹnoje vrémja) — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • Spanish: presente progresivo — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • Turkish: şimdiki zaman — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present
  • Vietnamese: thì hiện tại tiếp diễn — tense that describes an ongoing action in the present