If you say that something is presently happening, you mean that it is happening now.
She is presently developing a number of projects.
The island is presently uninhabited.
He is presently the medical director for the Fellowship of World Christians.
Synonyms: at present, currently, now, today More Synonyms of presently
2. adverb
You use presently to indicate that something happened quite a short time after the time or event that you have just mentioned.
[written]
Presently, a young woman in a white coat came in.
'You're not looking too well, Thomas,' he said presently.
3. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you say that something will happen presently, you mean that it will happen quite soon.
[formal]
'Who's Agnes?'—'You'll be meeting her presently.'.
'Just take it easy,' David said. 'You'll feel better presently.'
Synonyms: soon, shortly, directly, before long More Synonyms of presently
presently in British English
(ˈprɛzəntlɪ)
adverb
1.
in a short while; soon
2.
at the moment
3. an archaic word for immediately
presently in American English
(ˈprɛzəntli)
adverb
1.
in a little while; soon
2.
at present; now
a usage objected to by some
3. Archaic
at once; instantly
Examples of 'presently' in a sentence
presently
Swimming is one of a number of sports presently overhauling its classification process and significant changes are expected in the next Paralympic cycle.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Swimming is one of a number of sports presently overhauling its classification processand significant changes are expected in the next Paralympic cycle.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
On the evidence presently available there was and would be effectively no public interest in further disclosure or publication.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This a 200 per cent rise from the number of borrowers presently behind with their repayments.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Since work is not presently available to provide that necessary stimulation and structure, a new alternative has to be found.
Ingham, Christine Life Without Work (1994)
It was useless attempting to think what he should do next, seeing the circumstances in which he was presently to find himself were altogether unknown to him.
George MacDonald The Princess and the Curdie (1883)
In other languages
presently
British English: presently /ˈprɛzəntlɪ/ ADVERB
If you say that something is presently happening, you mean that it is happening now.
She is presently working on a number of projects.
American English: presently
Arabic: حَالِيّاً
Brazilian Portuguese: presentemente
Chinese: 目前
Croatian: sada
Czech: nyní
Danish: for tiden
Dutch: momenteel
European Spanish: en este momento
Finnish: pian
French: actuellement
German: bald
Greek: προς το παρόν
Italian: attualmente
Japanese: やがて
Korean: 곧
Norwegian: for øyeblikket
Polish: obecnie
European Portuguese: presentemente
Romanian: în prezent
Russian: в настоящий момент
Latin American Spanish: en este momento
Swedish: omedelbart
Thai: ขณะนี้
Turkish: şu anda
Ukrainian: наразі
Vietnamese: ngay đây
Chinese translation of 'presently'
presently
(ˈprɛzntlɪ)
adv
(= after a while) 一会(會)儿(兒) (yīhuìr)
(= shortly) 马(馬)上 (mǎshàng)
(= currently) 目前 (mùqián)
1 (adverb)
Definition
at the moment
The island is presently uninhabited.
Synonyms
at present
At present, children under 14 are not permitted in bars.
currently
now
Most of our revenue now comes from overseas clients.
today
He thinks pop music today is as exciting as ever.
these days
nowadays
Economic discontent is widespread in a country which is nowadays one of the poorest in Asia.
at the present time
in this day and age
diseases which are unknown in this day and age
at the minute (British, informal)
I can't afford to take any time off at the minute.
2 (adverb)
Definition
soon
Just take it easy and you'll feel better presently.
Synonyms
soon
You'll be hearing from us very soon.
shortly
Their trial will begin shortly.
directly
He'll be there directly.
before long
momentarily (US, Canadian)
in a moment
in a minute
pretty soon (informal)
anon (archaic)
You shall see him anon.
by and by
By and by the light gradually grew fainter.
in a short while
in a jiffy (informal)
erelong (archaic, poetic)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of anon
Definition
soon
You shall see him anon.
Synonyms
soon,
presently,
shortly,
promptly,
before long,
forthwith,
betimes (archaic),
erelong (archaic, poetic),
in a couple of shakes (informal)
in the sense of at the minute
I can't afford to take any time off at the minute.
Synonyms
at present,
now,
presently,
currently,
at the moment,
this minute
in the sense of by and by
Definition
presently or eventually
By and by the light gradually grew fainter.
Synonyms
presently,
shortly,
soon,
eventually,
one day,
before long,
in a while,
anon (archaic, literary),
in the course of time,
erelong (archaic, poetic)
Synonyms of 'presently'
presently
Explore 'presently' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of directly
Definition
at once
He'll be there directly.
Synonyms
at once,
presently,
soon,
quickly,
as soon as possible,
in a second,
straightaway,
forthwith,
posthaste
in the sense of erelong
Synonyms
soon,
early,
shortly,
quickly,
before long,
speedily
in the sense of in this day and age
diseases which are unknown in this day and age
Synonyms
nowadays,
now,
today,
these days,
at the moment
in the sense of now
Definition
in these times
Most of our revenue now comes from overseas clients.
Synonyms
nowadays,
at the moment,
these days
in the sense of nowadays
Definition
in these times
Economic discontent is widespread in a country which is nowadays one of the poorest in Asia.