Phrase guide

present perfect

noun · 2 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 perfect tense that expresses action in the past (usually completed) with consequences in the present time.

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

2

noun

Meaning 2

a perfective tense used to express action completed in the present

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • `I have finished' is an example of the present perfect

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: present perfect tense

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: perfective, perfective tense, perfect, perfect tense

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 現在完成 /现在完成 (xiànzài wánchéng) — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Danish: førnutid — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Danish: perfektum — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Dutch: voltooid tegenwoordige tijd — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Faroese: núliðin tíð — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Finnish: perfekti — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • French: présent parfait — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • French: parfait — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • German: Perfekt — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • German: Perfektum — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Greek: παρακείμενος (parakeímenos) — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Greek: παρακείμενος (parakeímenos) — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Ancient Greek: παρακείμενος (parakeímenos) — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Hungarian: befejezett jelen — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Italian: passato prossimo — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Japanese: 現在完了 (genzai kanryō) — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Korean: 현재완료 (hyeonjaewallyo) — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Korean: 오늘적끝남 (oneuljeokkkeunnam) — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Mongolian: одоо төгссөн цаг (odoo tögssön cag) — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Mongolian: төгс одоо цаг (tögs odoo cag) — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Norwegian: perfektum — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Persian: ماضی نقلی (mâzi-e naqli) — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Persian: حال کامل (hâl-e kâmel) — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Portuguese: presente perfeito — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Russian: настоя́щее соверше́нное вре́мя (nastojáščeje soveršénnoje vrémja) — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Swedish: perfekt — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Turkish: kusursuz şimdiki zaman — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time
  • Vietnamese: thì hiện tại hoàn thành — tense that expresses action in the past with consequences in the present time