promptly

adverb

prompt·​ly ˈpräm(p)t-lē How to pronounce promptly (audio)
ˈpräm-plē
Synonyms of promptlynext
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.

Examples of promptly in a Sentence

shipped the package promptly so that it would arrive on time
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors. Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 25 Dec. 2025 The man moved back and promptly had his leg blown off by a shell. Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 25 Dec. 2025 Hatchet promptly dragged me into the cedar bushes around the clinic to trail rabbits. Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 24 Dec. 2025 The Jags wideout might as well have been Nathan MacKinnon at full tilt, because Locke promptly fell to his backside on the turf. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for promptly

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of promptly was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Promptly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/promptly. Accessed 4 Jan. 2026.

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