# presently

/ˈpɹɛzəntɫi/ (US) · /pɹˈɛzəntlˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/presently
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. soon

adverb · CEFR B2

in a short time; soon.

For teachers: in a short time; after a brief interval. This is the standard modern sense in both British and American English.

- The doctor is busy right now, but she will be with you presently.
- The rain began to subside, and presently the sun broke through the clouds, illuminating the valley below.

### 2. now

adverb · CEFR C1 · Formal · American English

at the current time.

For teachers: at the present time; currently. While common in North American business contexts, some style guides traditionally discouraged this use in favour of 'currently'.

- He is presently working as a consultant for a firm in London.
- The director is presently engaged in a meeting and cannot be disturbed until the afternoon session concludes.

### 3. immediately

adverb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · British English

right away or at once.

For teachers: immediately; at once. This sense is largely restricted to historical literature and is no longer used in contemporary speech.

- The king ordered the guards to bring the prisoner presently to the court.
- In the nineteenth-century novel, the protagonist was told to depart presently if he wished to catch the final carriage.

## Examples

- The manager is presently out of the office.
- The committee is presently reviewing all applications and will announce a decision by the end of the week.
- While the technology is presently in its experimental phase, researchers anticipate that it will be ready for commercial application within the next decade.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.