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 of promptly

• immediately
• instantly
• now

Examples of promptly in a Sentence

shipped the package promptly so that it would arrive on time

Recent Examples on the Web

If the Strait of Hormuz reopened and both Russian and Iranian refineries were repaired promptly, prices could decrease, easing the globe’s record-breaking diesel squeeze. — Victoria Hoffmann, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026

Officials asked anyone who had direct contact with a bat in the Curry Village area on or around May 18 to contact the California Department of Health and reach out to a healthcare provider promptly to determine whether medical treatment is needed. — The Sacramento Bee Staff, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Refrigerate leftovers promptly and thaw meat, poultry, and seafood safely to help reduce the risk of foodborne illness. — Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 18 Sep. 2026

China pushed back promptly on the passage of the Sanctioning Russia Act, though Trump has not yet signed the legislation or announced an intention to make good on the authority to levy new duties. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1