literary present

noun

The present tense as used by convention to describe events in fictional works, such as when explaining the plot of a book or film.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounliterary present (uncountable)
  1. uncountablegrammarThe present tense as used by convention to describe events in fictional works, such as when explaining the plot of a book or film.
  2. uncountablegrammarThe present tense as used to describe an action of speaking or writing that lives on through written works or record.
Cite this entry
APA

literary present. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/literary%20present

MLA

“literary present.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/literary%20present. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “literary present,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/literary%20present.

Source: literary present on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.