presently

adverb

pres·​ent·​ly ˈpre-zᵊnt-lē 

1

a

archaic : at once

b

: without undue delay : before long

2

: at the present time : now

Usage of Presently

Both senses 1b and 2 are flourishing in current English, but many commentators have objected to sense 2. Since this sense has been in continuous use since the 15th century, it is not clear why it is objectionable. Perhaps a note in the Oxford English Dictionary (1909) that the sense has been obsolete since the 17th century in literary English is to blame, but the note goes on to observe that the sense is in regular use in most English dialects. The last citation in that dictionary is from a 1901 Leeds newspaper, written in Standard English. Sense 2 is most common in contexts relating to business and politics.

the fastest-rising welfare cost is Medicaid, presently paid by the states and cities

—William Safire

Synonyms

• anon
• before long
• by and by
• directly
• momentarily
• shortly
• soon

Examples of presently in a Sentence

I cannot attend to the matter this instant, but I will presently.

we are presently waiting in line for our turn

Recent Examples on the Web

Railroad labor unions are presently resisting autonomous rail cars, and their resistance plainly doesn’t require explanation. —John Tamny, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

Advertisement Wandering in separately from the modernist monstrosity across the street are JD (Luke Wilson), a depressed out-of-work actor, and glittery, shallow Margo (Linda Cardellini), who will presently be identified as his wife. —Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

So how, amid a seven-game losing streak and coming off Sunday’s humiliating 25-point loss, could anyone have confidence these Bears have it in them to win any of their four remaining games, all against teams that presently reside inside the NFC playoff picture? —Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 11 Dec. 2024

There is still a way Shohei Ohtani's contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers can outrank Juan Soto's with the New York Mets — as presently reported, with the deal yet to be formally signed and approved by the league — as the most lucrative in MLB history. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

presently

adverb

pres·​ent·​ly ˈprez-ᵊnt-lē 

1

archaic : at once

2

: before long : after a while

presently they arrived

3

: at the present time : now

she is presently working