promptly

adverb

prompt·​ly ˈpräm(p)t-lē 

ˈpräm-plē

1

: in a prompt manner : without delay : very quickly or immediately

I'm going to speak French again, something I learned in school and promptly forgot.

—Deanna Pai

Treatment is promptly resumed until the virus is suppressed again, and then stopped to see if the patient's immune system is able to keep the viral levels in check.

—Joan Stephenson

2

: exactly at a particular time or the correct time

She arrived promptly at 7:00 p.m. as we had agreed.

Synonyms

• bang
• directly
• forthwith
• headlong
• immediately
• incontinently
• instantaneously
• instanter
• instantly
• now
• PDQ
• plumb
• presently
• pronto
• right
• right away
• right now
• right off
• straight off
• straightaway
• straightway

Examples of promptly in a Sentence

shipped the package promptly so that it would arrive on time

Recent Examples on the Web

He was released in November 2023, then promptly arrested again after releasing this video detailing his horrific experiences in prison. —Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 22 May 2024

Wade promptly left the case, but a defense appeal of McAfee’s ruling is now pending before the Georgia Court of Appeals. —Kate Brumback, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1