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

Unlike Southampton, who promptly dispatched their second manager of this season, Ivan Juric, immediately after relegation was confirmed, there has been a hesitancy about making a change. —Rob Tanner, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

Passengers are advised to practice frequent handwashing, report illnesses promptly, and consider using disinfectants in their cabins. —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025

Not wanting to disrupt the church function, Velasquez Cruz stepped outside to check on the monitor only to find immigration agents waiting for him, who promptly detained him. —Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2025

The two will form a triangle with Aldebaran, the bright red giant star in Taurus, just below — but act quickly because the trio will promptly sink into the horizon. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1