presently

[ prez-uhnt-lee ]

adverb

1. in a little while; soon:

   They will be here presently.

   Synonyms: forthwith, shortly

   Antonyms: later

2. at the present time; now:

   He is presently out of the country.

3. Archaic. immediately.

presently

/ ˈprɛzəntlɪ /

adverb

1. in a short while; soon
2. at the moment
3. an archaic word for immediately

Usage Note

The two apparently contradictory meanings of presently, “in a little while, soon” and “at the present time, now,” are both old in the language. In the latter meaning presently dates back to the 15th century. It is currently in standard use in all varieties of speech and writing in both Great Britain and the United States. The sense “soon” arose gradually during the 16th century. Strangely, it is the older sense “now” that is sometimes objected to by usage guides. The two senses are rarely if ever confused in actual practice. Presently meaning “now” is most often used with the present tense ( The professor is presently on sabbatical leave ) and presently meaning “soon” often with the future tense ( The supervisor will be back presently ). The semantic development of presently parallels that of anon, which first had the meaning, now archaic, of “at once, immediately,” but later came to mean “soon.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of presently¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; present ¹, -ly

Synonym Study

See immediately

Example Sentences

He is presently working on Meet the Neighbors, a book about what understanding the minds of animals means for human relations to wild animals and to nature.

From Nautilus

The new laws propose allowing farmers to enter into contracts to sell their output directly to private players, bypassing the government-regulated markets, or mandis, where produce sales presently take place.

From Quartz

There is a third group that presently seems to be 15% to 25% that is unlikely to ever come back to a facility to meet their fitness needs.

From Fortune

With agencies culling staff to manage the financial difficulties that have come due to the coronavirus crisis, there are fewer people on staff who are presently managing the work of multiple positions.

From Digiday

The Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center does not presently predict severe thunderstorms in the region.

From Washington Post

However, he has no plans presently to return to Russia to find out.

From The Daily Beast

One thing led to another, and they were presently on a couch in his library.

From The Daily Beast

The use of the F-22 over Syria presently is easily feasible and extremely logical.

From The Daily Beast

In fairness, laws presently on the books allow Pennsylvania legislators to take gifts legally.

From The Daily Beast

Presently Louis rose with a nod to us and offered his arm to Constance, and they strolled away along the river wall.

From The Daily Beast

It wasn't far, so we kept on, and presently it developed that we had accidentally come upon old Piegan Smith.

From Project Gutenberg

Presently he began to shiver so, with some sort of a chill, that I took off my coat and wrapped it round him.

From Project Gutenberg

Presently there was a clattering of hoofs behind him, and Ribsy came galloping along the road, with nothing on him but his collar.

From Project Gutenberg

It is impossible to believe that thus far it is anything but a sketch and intimation of what it will presently be.

From Project Gutenberg

The friends were standing close to the wall; but on these sounds they moved away; and a key presently turned in the door.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• immediately
• soon