Meaning of presence of mind | Babel Free

Definitions

Focused alertness, good sense, quick-thinking resourcefulness, or stability of feeling and thought, especially in spite of circumstances which are distracting, stressful, or otherwise challenging.

uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“[A]s you are to hear⟳ the moſt unexpected and ſurprizing thing that perhaps ever befel any Family in the VVorld, I beg⟳ you to promiſe me you vvill receive⟳ it vvith Compoſure and a Preſence of Mind⟳ ſuitable to a Man of Senſe.”

“[T]his magnificent palace would have⟳ infallibly been burnt down to the ground, if, by a presence of mind⟳ unusual to me, I had not suddenly thought of an expedient.”

“[S]he snatched a pistol from the wall, on which some fire-arms hung, and while she screamed to her father to awake⟳, had the presence of mind⟳ to present⟳ it at the intruder.”

“The Major and Captain Costigan were old soldiers and accustomed to face⟳ the enemy, so we may presume that they retained their presence of mind⟳ perfectly; but the rest⟳ of the party assembled in Cos's sitting-room were, perhaps, a little flurried at Pendennis's apparition.”

“During the whole agitating scene, Lillie kept up her presence of mind⟳, and was perfectly aware of what she was about; […]”

“It speaks well for Barrett's presence of mind⟳ that he had grasped the situation and decided on his line of action before Welch went, and the Head turned his attention to him.”

“Somebody had the presence of mind⟳ to give⟳ [Christopher] Reeve mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and the paramedics arrived about a minute later.”

“He slipped and fell under the wagon's wheels, losing his left leg. His presence of mind⟳ was quite amazing. The report⟳ notes that Webb's knowledge of first aid probably saved his life, and he was able to instruct others who came to help⟳ him.”

CEFR level