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Definition of presently adverb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

presently

adverb
 
 
/ˈprezntli/
 
/ˈprezntli/
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  1.  
    (especially North American English) at the time you are speaking or writing; now synonym currently
    • The crime is presently being investigated by the police.
    • These are the courses presently available.
    In this meaning presently usually comes before the verb, adjective or noun that it refers to.
  2.  
    used to show that something happened after a short time
    • Presently, the door opened again and three men stepped out.
    In this meaning presently usually comes at the beginning of a sentence.
  3.  
    used to show that something will happen soon synonym shortly
    • She'll be here presently.
    In this meaning presently usually comes at the end of a sentence.
    British/American presentlypresently
    • In both British English and North American English, presently can mean ‘soon’ or ‘after a short time’:
      • I’ll be with you presently.
      In North American English the usual meaning of presently is ‘at the present time’ or ‘now’:
      • She is presently living in Milan.
      • There is presently no cure for the disease.
      This use is becoming more accepted in British English, but at present or currently are usually used.
See presently in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee presently in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: presently

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
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