ENGLISH
REFERENCE

presently

adv. time
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈpɹɛzəntɫi// UK //pɹˈɛzəntlˌi// present·ly Archaic

adv. at this time or right now. You use it to describe what is happening at the current moment.

adv. at the current time; currently. In modern usage, it refers to the present moment, though in older literature it often meant 'soon' or 'shortly'.


SIMPLE

The manager is presently out of the office.

CONTEXTUAL

The committee is presently reviewing all applications and will announce a decision by the end of the week.

COMPLEX

While the technology is presently in its experimental phase, researchers anticipate that it will be ready for commercial application within the next decade.

Synonyms
Origin

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

Usage

Typically placed before the main verb or at the beginning of a sentence to establish the timeframe.

Pitfall

I will do it presently (meaning now)I am doing it presentlyIn modern English, presently means 'currently'. Using it to mean 'soon' is archaic and can cause confusion about when an action occurs.

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