presently

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[edit] English

presently (comparative more presently, superlative most presently)

(now UK, rare) Immediately, at once; quickly. [from 14th c.]
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, Folio Society 2006, vol. 1, p. 219:
  
  the butler supposing the Wine had beene so carefully commended unto him for the goodnesse of it, imediately presented some unto the Pope, who whilest he was drinking, his sonne came in and never imagining his bottles had beene toucht, tooke the cup and pledged his father, so that the Pope died presently; and the sonne, after he had long time beene tormented with sicknesse, recovered to another worse fortune.
Before long; soon. [from 15th c.]
- 1646, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, I.3:
  
  It [...] is the greatest example of lenity in our Saviour, when he desired of God forgiveness unto those, who having one day brought him into the City in triumph, did presently after, act all dishonour upon him, and nothing could be heard but, Crucifige, in their Courts.
At the present time; now; currently. [from 15th c.]

He is presently working on the Henderson account.

1891, The Welsh Review, No. 1 (November 1891). "A Word to the Welsh People." p. 1.

To all of you, therefore, who call Wales your motherland, whether you presently inhabit some other portion of the globe or breathe the air of your cloud-kissed country. . . .

Some older usage guides, especially for UK English, object the sense now, though most major modern dictionaries do not.

in the near future

at the present time; currently