Dictionary

presently en · ADV

Pronunciation

• /ˈpɹɛzəntli/ (UK)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English presently; equivalent to present + -ly.

Meanings

1. (UK, archaic) Immediately, at once; quickly.
   • And presently the fig tree withered away. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 21:19:
   • the butler supposing the Wine had beene so carefully commended unto him for the goodnesse of it, imediately presented some unto the Pope, who whilest he was drinking, his sonne came in and never imagining his bottles had beene toucht, tooke the cup and pledged his father, so that the Pope died presently; and the sonne, after he had long time beene tormented with sicknesse, recovered to another worse fortune. , Folio Society, 2006, Vol.1, p.219
   • Polonius: My lord, the queen would speak with you, and presently. c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
2. Before long; soon.
   • ‘I shall presently be getting a call to tell me of that.’ 1940, Raymond Chandler, Farewell, My Lovely, Penguin, published 2010, page 55:
   • But they had already discovered that he could be bullied, and they had it their own way; and presently Selwyn lay prone upon the nursery floor, impersonating a ladrone while pleasant shivers chased themselves over Drina, whom he was stalking. 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter I, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
   • Presently all was quiet again.
   • I shall forget you presently, my dear, / So make the most of this, your little day, / Your little month, your little half a year, / Ere I forget, or die, or move away, 1921, Edna St. Vincent Millay, “Sonnet IV”, in A Few Figs from Thistles:
   • It[…]is the greatest example of lenity in our Saviour, when he desired of God forgiveness unto those, who having one day brought him into the City in triumph, did presently after, act all dishonour upon him, and nothing could be heard but, Crucifige, in their Courts. 1646, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, I.3:
3. (proscribed, rare) At present; now; currently.
   • To all of you, therefore, who call Wales your motherland, whether you presently inhabit some other portion of the globe or breathe the air of your cloud-kissed country […]. 1891, The Welsh Review, No.1 (November 1891). "A Word to the Welsh People." p.1
   • The towns and forts you presently have. a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:
4. (obsolete) With actual presence; in actuality.
   • March 27 1545, Stephen Gardiner, letter to Thomas Smith and MAtthew PArker if they perceyve not presently, it shal be wel doon to bringe them to conformite

Forms

Synonyms

at the moment · right now

Translations (41)

nb nå for tiden (at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently) · mr सध्या (at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently) · nb nå (at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently) · hu hamarosan (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · bg понастоящем (at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently) · la mox (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · cy gyda hyn (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · mi nāwai (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · pdt jrod (at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently) · cs nyní (at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently) · bg след малко (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · hu rövidesen (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · de sogleich (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · hu mindjárt (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · ga ar ball (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · cs teď (at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently) · fi kohta (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · vo atimo (at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently) · pdt boolt (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · nl aldra (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · hu kisvártatva (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · bg скоро (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · fa به زودی (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · nb i våre dager (at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently) · fi pian (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · oc presentament (at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently) · mi taro (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · fi tällä hetkellä (at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently) · mi nāwai rā (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · pl niebawem (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · mi tākaro (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · yue 一陣間 /一阵间 (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · fi nyt (at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently) · hu jelenleg (at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently) · gd an ceartuair (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · bg сега (at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently) · fi nykyään (at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently) · hu nemsokára (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · ru ско́ро (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · oc lèu (before long, soon — see also before long, soon) · ru вско́ре (before long, soon — see also before long, soon)