presently
gb/pɹˈɛzəntli/ us/pɹˈɛzəntli/
B2
English
~ 9800
jelenleg, hamarosan, haladéktalanul, rögtön, azonnal, nyomban
B2
FORMAL
1
jelenleg
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is presently [verb-ing/past participle]
The company is presently reviewing all job applications.
A vállalat jelenleg minden álláspályázatot felülvizsgál.
She is presently working as a software engineer in Berlin.
Jelenleg szoftvermérnökként dolgozik Berlinben.
This road is presently closed due to construction work.
The matter is presently before the court.
He is presently enrolled in a master’s program in economics.
Learner examples
I am presently looking for a new job.
Jelenleg új állást keresek.
The shop is presently open to customers.
Az üzlet jelenleg nyitva van a vásárlók számára.
She is presently living with her parents.
The report is presently being checked by the manager.
He is presently a student at this school.
Common mistake:
Learners often think "presently" always means "soon". In modern formal English, especially in American and business writing, it very often means "now" or "currently". If you want to avoid confusion, use "now" or "currently" instead of "presently" in most situations.
Meaning
at the present time; now
Collocations
is presently
|presently available
|presently employed
|presently under investigation
|presently being
|presently studying
Synonyms
currently (Very common in both speech and writing; slightly less formal than "presently".)
|
at present (Common in speech and writing; a little more conversational than "presently".)
|
now (Very general and frequent; less formal and more direct than "presently".)
Antonyms
formerly (Refers to an earlier time, the opposite of what is true "presently".)
Themes
time
|work
|formal_writing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
At this time; now.
At the present time; now, as things currently are.
B2
LITERARY
2
hamarosan
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] will presently [verb]
The host is busy at the moment but will come to see you presently.
A házigazda most elfoglalt, de hamarosan kijön Önhöz.
Dinner will be served presently in the main hall.
A vacsorát hamarosan felszolgálják a nagyteremben.
The train should arrive presently, so please wait on the platform.
She felt nervous, but presently the feeling passed.
The lights went out, and presently the generator started up.
Learner examples
The doctor is with another patient but will see you presently.
Az orvos most egy másik beteggel van, de hamarosan fogadja Önt.
Please take a seat; the meeting will start presently.
Kérem, foglaljon helyet; a megbeszélés hamarosan kezdődik.
The bus is late, but it should come presently.
He is not here now, but he will return presently.
The show will begin presently, so please turn off your phone.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this "soon" meaning is the only meaning. In modern English, "presently" can mean either "now" or "soon" depending on context and dialect. In everyday speech, it is safer and clearer to use "soon" instead of "presently" to avoid confusion.
Meaning
in a short time; soon
Collocations
will presently
|presently arrive
|presently appear
|presently return
|presently follow
|presently start
Synonyms
soon (Most common everyday word; more natural than "presently" in modern speech.)
|
shortly (Often used in announcements and formal situations; slightly more official than "soon".)
|
before long (A bit more informal and conversational; often used in storytelling.)
Antonyms
much later (Emphasizes that something will happen far in the future, not "presently".)
Themes
time
|stories
|conversation
|core_vocabulary
Definition
After a short time; soon.
After a short time from now; soon.
C2
ARCHAIC
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] does [something] presently
I knocked upon the door, and presently it opened to reveal an old man.
Bekopogtam az ajtón, és az rögtön kinyílt: egy öregember állt ott.
We set forth at dawn and presently came to a small village by the river.
Hajnalban indultunk útnak, és rögtön egy folyóparti kis faluba értünk.
The storm grew louder, and presently the windows began to rattle.
He considered the matter and presently gave his answer.
They walked in silence and presently reached the edge of the forest.
Learner examples
In this old story, the hero waits, and presently the king comes.
Ebben a régi történetben a hős vár, és rögtön megérkezik a király.
The old book says they walk and presently they find a house.
A régi könyv azt írja, hogy mennek, és rögtön találnak egy házat.
In the novel, the door is closed, but presently it opens.
The children sit by the fire; presently their father tells a story.
In many classic stories, you can read sentences like "he presently came to a river."
Common mistake:
Learners might see this meaning in classic literature and think it is common today. In modern English, people almost never use "presently" to mean "immediately". Use "immediately" or "right away" instead.
Meaning
immediately; without delay
Collocations
presently came
|presently went
|presently rose
|presently set out
Synonyms
immediately (Modern and common; clearly means without any delay, unlike modern "presently".)
|
at once (Common in modern English for "immediately"; more natural in speech than this archaic use of "presently".)
Antonyms
after a while (Shows there is a delay, the opposite of acting "presently" in this old sense.)
Themes
time
|literature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Right away, with no waiting (old use, mostly in very old books).
Immediately or without any delay (now rare and mainly found in older texts).
Grammar
Dictionary form
presently
IPA
GB/pɹˈɛzəntli/
US/pɹˈɛzəntli/
Syllables & stress
presently (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (presently)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: presently
- Plural: presentlies
Word family
Forms
presentlies
noun
Related words
presentation
noun B1
presenter
noun B1
Advanced or less common
presentable
adjective
presentational
adjective C1
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.