Last Update: Jan 03, 2023
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Asked by: Prof. Alf Will MD
Score: 4.3/5
(42 votes)
1, The car is presently at the prototype stage. 2, The doctor will be here presently. 3, These are the courses presently available. 4, She is presently developing a number of projects.
Can you use presently in a sentence?
Presently sentence example. Presently religious was superadded to political persecution. Presently he woke up, rose to a sitting position and rubbed his eyes briskly. The travellers now resumed their walk toward the cottage, which they presently reached.
Is there such a word as presently?
Some people say that ‘presently’ is an old use. But my opinion is different. As I believe a language having different words giving the same or similar meaning and one word having different meanings is the richness of the language. So currently and presently are all acceptable for me.
Should I use currently or presently?
In US English, it is correct to use “presently” as a synonym for “currently”. Because of this, some UK English speakers may also find this usage acceptable. More examples of how to use “currently”: The price is currently being negotiated.
What tense is presently?
Presently meaning “now” is most often used with the present tense ( The professor is presently on sabbatical leave ) and presently meaning “soon” often with the future tense ( The supervisor will be back presently ).
41 related questions found
What is difference between currently and presently?
Presently may mean “immediately” or “soon,” and in modern usage it has come to mean “now”; careful writers choose a more precise term. Currently means “now” and causes no problems.
How do you use tenses correctly?
As a general rule, the verb tense you are using should be consistent throughout your sentence and your paragraph. For example, the sentence “We had eaten (past perfect tense) dinner, and then we talked (simple past tense)” should be written as “We ate (simple past tense) dinner, and then we talked (simple past tense)”.
Can you use currently and right now in the same sentence?
The bottom line is this: there is no restriction on what tenses we can use and mix within a sentence, as long as they are appropriate for the context.
What is the difference between at the moment and currently?
«I am going to work now.» Currently means during the present time. … «I’m a little busy at this minute.» At the moment can mean a time from now to an undecided time.
How do you use presently?
presently
- (especially North American English) at the time you are speaking or writing; now synonym currently. The crime is presently being investigated by the police. …
- used to show that something happened after a short time. …
- used to show that something will happen soon synonym shortly.
What kind of word is presently?
presently adverb (NOW)
What does the phrase in this day and age mean?
: at the present time in history : nowadays Computers are essential to getting work done in this day and age. It’s unbelievable that in this day and age people are still dying from hunger.
What means before long?
: in the near future : soon.
Where are you presently meaning?
Presently is defined as something that is going on right now, or at this present moment. If you are currently in your home at this is an example moment, this is an example of a situation where you are presently at home. … At present; now.
What is the meaning of today in English?
: the present day, time, or age today’s youth. today. adjective.
Is as of now formal?
When Is It Appropriate to Say, “As of Now” or “As of Right Now” It is appropriate to say, “as of now” or “as of right now” in any situation where you are trying to explain an action will begin in the present moment and continue into the future. You can use it in either a formal or an informal setting comfortably.
What is the meaning of As for now?
While both make reference to the present moment, “as of now” and “as for now” have very different meanings. “As of now” is used to refer to something that has recently become an accurate statement, while “as for now” is used to suggest a current focus on one specific aspect of something, but which may change later.
Is at the moment formal?
Nowadays is colloquial, unlikely to be used in formal writing. At the present time is formal to the point of pomposity; I cannot conceive of any context in which at the present time should be preferred to one of the other expressions.
Can you mix past and present tense in a sentence?
It’s fine to use the present and the past here. After all, that’s what happens: as you say, you paid the deposit in the past and pay the rent in the present. Tenses should agree in the same clause, but it’s very common to have multiple tenses in the same sentence. Although I was sick yesterday, I am fine today.
Is it past or passed your bedtime?
It is past your bedtime. You have passed your bedtime.
Do you walk past or passed?
The correct form is walked past. Walked passed is incorrect. The reason is that the word past is an adverb, so it is modifying the verb walked. The word past can be a little tricky to use in the right way.
How do we identify tenses in English?
Identify the tenses
- She is teaching her students. Present continuous tense. …
- We have been waiting for them. Simple present. …
- He eats with his left hand. Simple present. …
- We have learnt our lessons. …
- He has had his breakfast. …
- The chief guest addressed the gathering. …
- They had been walking. …
- They will have learnt their lessons.
What is the meaning of appropriate tenses?
The tense. of a verb usually gives readers a sense of time. In other words, verb tense explains if the action in the sentence took place previously (past tense), is taking place right now (present tense), or will take place some time in the future (future tense).
Asked by: Mrs. Joana Purdy DVM
Score: 4.3/5
(55 votes)
So, this is the point: currently, presently is used to mean both ‘soon’ and ‘now’ in American and British English. At present is British, unlikely to be used in American English. It means ‘now’, ‘at the moment’ or ‘currently’.
What is the difference between presently and currently?
Presently may mean “immediately” or “soon,” and in modern usage it has come to mean “now”; careful writers choose a more precise term. Currently means “now” and causes no problems.
How do you use presently?
presently
- (especially North American English) at the time you are speaking or writing; now synonym currently. The crime is presently being investigated by the police. …
- used to show that something happened after a short time. …
- used to show that something will happen soon synonym shortly.
Where do we use presently in a sentence?
at this time or period; now.
- The car is presently at the prototype stage.
- The doctor will be here presently.
- These are the courses presently available.
- She is presently developing a number of projects.
- Presently I got the whole story.
- The crime is presently being investigated by the police.
Does presently mean now or later?
Presently meaning “now” is most often used with the present tense ( The professor is presently on sabbatical leave ) and presently meaning “soon” often with the future tense ( The supervisor will be back presently ).
31 related questions found
Is presently a formal word?
Many people – native English speakers included – are confused by the word “presently”. In UK English it has traditionally been a formal, literary word which means “in a short time”, “soon” or “before long” – in contrast to “currently”, which means “at the present time”.
What does the phrase in this day and age mean?
Definition of in this day and age
: at the present time in history : nowadays Computers are essential to getting work done in this day and age. It’s unbelievable that in this day and age people are still dying from hunger.
Can you use currently and right now in the same sentence?
There are very many situations where it is ungrammatical to use currently but grammatical to use right now. The reason for this is that right now is a preposition phrase, and currently is an adverb. We can use preposition phrases as well as adverbs as temporal adjuncts in sentences: I am working right now.
Can a sentence start with currently?
Yes, you can begin a sentence with the word ‘currently’. It is an adverb of time that can be placed at the beginning of a sentence to describe when an…
What is another word for currently?
In this page you can discover 11 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for currently, like: presently, now, at-present, , currrently, previously, curently, even (or just) (or right) now, already, time and actually.
Is it right now or right now?
Right often adds emphasis, as in ‘I want you to do it right now. ‘ In your example right now means ‘at exactly the present moment’, but it leaves the reader with the hope that a connection might be possible in the not too distant future.
Can you mix past and present tense in a sentence?
The bottom line is this: there is no restriction on what tenses we can use and mix within a sentence, as long as they are appropriate for the context.
Can you end a sentence with now?
It means ‘at the present time‘, ‘at this moment’ or ‘very soon’. We usually put now with this meaning in end position: My father worked here and my brothers work here now.
WHO says that in this day and age?
Seuss: “Nonsense wakes up the brain cells. And it helps develop a sense of humor, which is awfully important in this day and age.” The correct expression is “in this day and age.”
What is a synonym for in this day and age?
Synonyms. nowadays, at the moment, these days. in the sense of today.
Is in this day and age an idiom?
Idiom: in this day and age
- at this time in history (compared to the past)
- in the present moment.
Is present day formal?
Nowadays is colloquial, unlikely to be used in formal writing. At the present time is formal to the point of pomposity; I cannot conceive of any context in which at the present time should be preferred to one of the other expressions.
How do you say today formally?
Today is slightly more formal: Apartments today are often designed for people with busy lifestyles. We can use today, but not nowadays or these days, with the possessive ‘s construction before a noun, or with of after a noun.
Is nowadays proper English?
Yes, that’s right: «nowadays» is technically correct, but colloquial. It is perfectly acceptable in oral speech, but it strikes the wrong tone in written English — because it is so informal or colloquial.
Which is the closest antonym for the word prohibit?
antonyms for prohibit
- help.
- allow.
- facilitate.
- release.
- permit.
- assist.
- aid.
- include.
What do you mean by momentarily?
1 : for a moment. 2 archaic : instantly. 3 : at any moment : in a moment.
What is the synonym of disseminate?
spread, circulate, distribute, disperse, diffuse, proclaim, promulgate, propagate, publicize, communicate, pass on, make known, put about. dissipate, scatter. broadcast, put on the air, put on the airwaves, publish.
What word class is right now?
Now can be an adjective, a conjunction, an interjection, a noun or an adverb.
Q: When I was in school, I was taught that “presently” meant “soon,” but the word is being used all the time these days to mean “now.” Was I taught wrong or has the meaning of the word changed?
A: One of the original meanings of “presently” was “now” or “at present,” but by sometime in the 17th century that meaning had fallen by the wayside and become obsolete. For the last few hundred years, the preferred meaning of “presently” has been “soon” or “before long,” as in “I’ll be along presently.”
However, the old meaning (“now”) never completely disappeared and has become more common lately, particularly in American English. “Presently” is often used interchangeably with “currently.” Still, most style guides recommend against that usage, particulary if there’s a danger of ambiguity.
In my opinion, using “presently” to mean “now” is unnecessary (“now” is a perfectly good word). And using “presently” in the accepted sense of “soon” sounds stiff and pretentious. (“Soon” is another perfectly good word.) Since there’s an ambiguity to the word anyway, I tend not to use it at all.
Clearly, the once-obsolete meaning (“now”) has been revived. Since real, honest-to-goodness usage is what determines “correctness,” there’s no point in arguing against the trend. But in many cases, the word “presently” can simply be deleted (example: “I am presently living in Altoona” vs. “I am living in Altoona”). If an ambiguous or a disputed word can be deleted without bloodshed, why not drop it?
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Tags
English language, Etymology, Grammar, Linguistics, Usage
Usage of Presently
Both senses 1b and 2 are flourishing in current English, but many commentators have objected to sense 2. Since this sense has been in continuous use since the 15th century, it is not clear why it is objectionable. Perhaps a note in the Oxford English Dictionary (1909) that the sense has been obsolete since the 17th century in literary English is to blame, but the note goes on to observe that the sense is in regular use in most English dialects. The last citation in that dictionary is from a 1901 Leeds newspaper, written in Standard English. Sense 2 is most common in contexts relating to business and politics.
the fastest-rising welfare cost is Medicaid, presently paid by the states and cities
—
William Safire
Synonyms
Example Sentences
I cannot attend to the matter this instant, but I will presently.
we are presently waiting in line for our turn
Recent Examples on the Web
And while not presently in use by the automaker, a 5.0-liter V-8 was employed by Genesis before this current portfolio, which would make for quite a swan song to its conventional power train.
—Matthew Askari, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2023
The Security Council comprises five permanent members—the U.S., Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom—as well as 10 nonpermanent members who presently include Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates.
—Daniella Cheslow, WSJ, 3 Apr. 2023
Deborah is presently residing in a government housing project in the Chattanooga area and is currently being supported on the State Welfare System.
—Larissa Macfarquhar, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2023
Only four players in MLB history reached 100 homers in fewer games, though interestingly, three of the four players are presently active.
—Michael Shapiro, Chron, 3 Apr. 2023
Ratajkowski, meanwhile, is presently preparing for battle against Styles’ League of Evil Exes.
—Brendan Morrow, The Week, 28 Mar. 2023
Past banners have displayed a variety of messages including an American Flag design around the Fourth of July, celebrating arts and culture in the city, encouraging residents to wear face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic or as presently posted, promoting last weekend’s Sidewalk Art Festival.
—Ryan Gillespie, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2023
The Conference Board measures consumer confidence through a monthly survey of consumer attitudes, spending plans, and expectations for inflation, stock prices and interest rates presently and over the next six months, according to the nonprofit organization.
—Matt Ott, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2022
Following the assassination of Moïse, Haiti faced a series of calamities, including a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, Tropical Storm Grace, the spread by COVID-19 and presently, the threat of cholera.
—Anselm Gibbs, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘presently.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of presently was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near presently
Cite this Entry
“Presently.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presently. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
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Last Updated:
8 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
Many people – native English speakers included – are confused by the word “presently”.
In UK English it has traditionally been a formal, literary word which means “in a short time”, “soon” or “before long” – in contrast to “currently”, which means “at the present time”.
Here are some examples:
Please hold the line, I’ll be with you presently.
i.e. Please don’t put the phone down, I have to do something else right now and I’ll talk to you again in a short time.
I’m sorry Angela isn’t here yet, but she just called us and we’re expecting her to arrive presently.
i.e. “soon”
They drove through the forest. Presently they came to a small town, where they pulled up at a petrol station.
i.e. “before long”
However, because “presently” has an obvious close association with the word “present”, people tend to use it to mean “at the present time”, “currently”. This usage is likely to be considered incorrect by conservative speakers of UK English – as in this example:
WRONG
We are presently experiencing problems with the internet connection in the London office.
RIGHT
We are currently experiencing problems with the internet connection in the London office.
BUT…
In US English, it is correct to use “presently” as a synonym for “currently”. Because of this, some UK English speakers may also find this usage acceptable.
More examples of how to use “currently”:
The price is currently being negotiated.
i.e. the negotiations have started but haven’t finished yet.
The employee started working for the Company in 2015 and is currently employed as Sales Director.
i.e. at the present time the employee works as Sales Director.
Speakers of US English would probably be fine with “presently” being used instead of “currently” in such sentences, but some speakers of UK English might think it incorrect.