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Presently: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Presently adverb. Soon; after a short time.
How to say it
PREZ-unt-lee/ˈprɛz(ə)ntli/
3 syllables, stressed on the first (PREZ).
Meanings
- Soon; after a short time.
- At the present time; now.
Presently in a sentence
The doctor will see you presently.
Take a seat; she'll be down presently.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- soon
- shortly
- in a moment
- directly
Opposite:
- later
Careful
In Britain presently usually means soon; in America it more often means now. Both are old and correct, but in a message across the Atlantic 'shortly' or 'currently' avoids a mix-up.
Where presently comes from
From present in the sense of at hand; in the 1500s it meant at once.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Take a seat; she'll be down _____.
- irregardless
- presently
- literally
Show the answer
presently: Take a seat; she'll be down presently.