presently

Presently is an English adverb with two principal senses. The primary, contemporary meaning is "at the present time; currently." A less common but historical sense is "soon; in a short time."

Etymology and history: Presently is formed from present plus the suffix -ly. It dates from Middle English and inherits the sense of immediacy tied to the current moment. The sense "soon" developed in various forms of English in early modern usage and has persisted alongside the more common "now" sense. Both meanings appear in older and modern texts, contributing to occasional ambiguity.

Usage and regional variation: In modern standard English, the dominant meaning is "currently." The sense "soon" remains recognized, but it can be ambiguous and is often avoided in formal writing. Regional differences influence interpretation: American English speakers are more likely to read "presently" as "soon," whereas in British English it is more commonly understood as "now" or "at the present moment," though both senses can be found in either variety. To minimize confusion, writers sometimes substitute "currently" for the present sense or "soon" or "shortly" for the near-future sense.

Examples: "We are presently conducting an investigation." (now) "He will arrive presently." (soon, depending on context) "The project is presently under review." (now)

Related notes: Presently remains most transparent when used to mean "at the present time." For clarity, many editors prefer explicit alternatives such as currently, at the moment, or soon, depending on intended meaning.