promptly
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
doing something immediately or very quickly after being asked or after something happens.
performed immediately or without hesitation following a request, event, or instruction.
Simple“When the alarm went off, the staff promptly evacuated the building.”
In context“The customer service team responded promptly to the complaint, resolving the technical issue within an hour of the initial report.”
Usagetypically follows the verb it modifies or appears at the end of the clause.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
at exactly the right time, not late.
at the exact time specified; punctually.
Simple“The meeting will begin promptly at nine o'clock tomorrow morning.”
In context“The train departed promptly at noon, leaving several late passengers stranded on the platform.”
Usageoften used with specific clock times.
Teacher's tipIn formal contexts, 'promptly' is preferred over 'sharp' or 'on the dot'.
“They got back to me, promptly and professionally.”
From prompt + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.