presently

immediately, instantly, presently, directly, shortly, soon, at once, right away

这些副词或副词词组均有“立刻、马上”之意。
immediately: 指做完一件事后，立即就做另一件事，中间一般没有明显的时间间隔。
instantly: 指恰恰就在此刻，一秒钟也没耽误。
presently: 指不久、即将。
directly: 和immediately同义，指毫无迟疑。
shortly: 和soon同义，指动作发生或完成的速度之快。
soon: 常用词，指行动快，完成速度快。
at once: 口语中常用，语气强烈，指时间紧迫，一刻也不能耽误。
right away: 主要用于美国英语，语气稍弱于at once，强调动作迅速。

副词 presently:

1. in the near future
   同义词：soon, shortly, before long
2. at this time or period; now
   同义词：currently

1. Presently the tumult died down.
   一会儿工夫骚动平息了下来。
2. The doctor will be here presently.
   医生一会儿就到。
3. The professor is presently writing a book.
   这位教授目前正在写一本书。

pres.ent.ly

adv.（副词）
In a short time; soon:
不久，一会儿：
例句：
She will arrive presently.
她一会儿就到

Usage Problem At this time or period; now:
【用法疑难】 现在，目前：
例句：
He is presently staying with us.
现在他正和我们大家在一起

Archaic At once; immediately.
【古语】 当即，立刻

An original meaning ofpresently was .at the present time; currently.. That sense is said to have disappeared from the literary language in the 7th century,but it has survived in popular usage and is widely found nowadays in literate speech and writing.Still, there is a lingering prejudice against this use.In the most recent surveythe sentenceGeneral Walters is . . . presently the United States Ambassador to the United Nations was acceptable to exactly 50 percent of the Usage Panel.
presenthy 的一个原始意为.现在，目前.。 那种意义据说在7世纪时从文学性语言中消失，但在大众用法中仍旧存在并且现今广泛存在于受过教育人的口头语和书面语之中，然而反对这一用法的成见仍然存在。在最近的调查中华特士将军…最近是美利坚合众国驻联合国大使 这句话的接受率在词语惯用法小组里正好为百分之五十。