promptly

adverb

prompt·​ly ˈpräm(p)t-lē 

ˈpräm-plē

1

: in a prompt manner : without delay : very quickly or immediately

I'm going to speak French again, something I learned in school and promptly forgot.

—Deanna Pai

Treatment is promptly resumed until the virus is suppressed again, and then stopped to see if the patient's immune system is able to keep the viral levels in check.

—Joan Stephenson

2

: exactly at a particular time or the correct time

She arrived promptly at 7:00 p.m. as we had agreed.

Synonyms

• bang
• directly
• forthwith
• headlong
• immediately
• incontinently
• instantaneously
• instanter
• instantly
• now
• PDQ
• plumb
• presently
• pronto
• right
• right away
• right now
• right off
• straight off
• straightaway
• straightway

Examples of promptly in a Sentence

shipped the package promptly so that it would arrive on time

Recent Examples on the Web

After that early Heat surge, the Bucks promptly unleashed a 39-16 rampage and Miami never really recovered, ending on the wrong side of a blowout loss for the second time in a week, dropping below .500 (at 21-22) and finishing the night ninth in the East. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025

The company’s immediate recall of 31 million bottles and transparent communication demonstrated its commitment to public safety, and as a result, the brand promptly regained trust. —Joann Yamani, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

Kesse’s parents promptly contacted the police, began reaching out to local hospitals and spoke to as many people in their daughter’s condo complex as possible, per 48 Hours. —Alex Gurley, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025

Maintenance Tips for Leather Couches Vacuum or dust weekly and treat spills and stains promptly. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1