presently

presently — adverb

1. at this moment in time; used to describe a situation that exists or an action ha

1.adverbC1
Definition

at this moment in time; used to describe a situation that exists or an action happening right now.

Example

Presently, Esteban serves as a consultant for renewable energy projects.

sentence-initial adverb for current role

There are presently no job openings at the factory, but that may change.

presently with 'there are' for current absence

Common collocations
  • presently under construction
  • presently employed as
  • presently working on
  • presently available
Synonyms
  • currently

    equally common in formal contexts; less likely to cause confusion with the 'soon' meaning

  • now

    more common in everyday speech; neutral register

  • at present

    more formal; often used in official or written English

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

presently + verb phrase

presently at start of sentence

presently after subject

Usage Note

More formal than 'now'. Common in formal writing, official announcements, and news reports. Frequently placed at the beginning of a sentence or directly before the main verb.

Common Mistakes

I am presently coming' (when you mean soon).
I am coming soon.
'presently' meaning 'now' contradicts a future action; use 'soon' or 'shortly' instead.

2. within a brief span of time from now; used to describe an event that is about to

2.adverbB2
Definition

within a brief span of time from now; used to describe an event that is about to take place or that followed shortly after a previous one.

Example

The repair team will arrive presently to fix the broken water pipe.

will + presently for near-future event

Presently, the doors opened and passengers began to leave the train.

past narrative: presently for sequence of events

Common collocations
  • will arrive presently
  • presently after
  • will be with you presently
Synonyms
  • soon

    more common in everyday speech; neutral register

  • shortly

    similar formality; common in announcements

  • before long

    slightly more literary; often used in narratives

Antonyms
  • later

    suggests a longer or indefinite wait

  • never

    opposite of happening in the future

Grammar Patterns

will + presently

presently + past simple (narrative)

Usage Note

When used in past-tense narratives (e.g., 'Presently, they arrived...'), it describes what happened next in the sequence. In everyday speech, 'soon' or 'in a moment' is more common than this sense of 'presently'.

Common Mistakes

Presently, I realize my mistake' (meaning 'now' but using a past-tense narrative).
Presently, I realized my mistake.
in past-tense narrative, 'presently' means 'after a short time', not 'now'.
She will arrive presently now.
She will arrive presently.
'presently' already implies a short time ahead; adding 'now' creates a contradiction.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

'Now' is the most neutral and frequent of these, used in both speech and writing to contrast the present moment with the past or future. 'Currently' is close in meaning but places stronger emphasis on an ongoing situation or process (e.g., 'She is currently leading the project'). 'At present' is more formal and often appears in official documents or announcements ('The museum is at present closed for renovations'). 'Nowadays' carries a comparative tone, contrasting present habits or conditions with those of the past ('People rely on smartphones nowadays'). 'Presently' (meaning 'now') is the most formal of the group and is common in news reports and written English. In casual conversation, speakers tend to prefer 'now' or 'currently'.

presently ↗currently ↗now ↗at presentnowadays ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • presently under
  • presently available
  • presently employed

Phrases

  • presently at work
  • presently in use
  • presently the case

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

'Presently' was formed in Middle English from the adjective 'present' (meaning 'being at hand, existing now') and the adverb suffix '-ly'. The word originally meant 'immediately, without delay' — a stronger version of the modern 'soon' sense. Over the 17th and 18th centuries, the meaning softened to 'after a short time' and eventually to 'at the present time' as well. Today, the word carries both the 'now' and 'soon' senses, though which one is intended depends heavily on context. The adjective 'present' itself comes from Latin 'praesent-' ('being at hand'), from 'prae' ('before') and 'esse' ('to be').