promptly

Everyday

1. Promptly means quickly, without waiting. tree →
2. Promptly means exactly on time: "at 9 o'clock promptly". tree →
3. Promptly can mean right after something else, often with a funny result: "He sat down and promptly fell asleep." tree →

In the lessons

In school notices and formal letters: "Please arrive promptly". In stories it shows something happening at once. In maths, time problems may say "starts promptly at" a time. Phrases: promptly at, reply promptly.

Examples

• Please reply promptly. tree →
• The bus leaves promptly at 8:15. tree →
• She answered the question promptly. tree →
• He lay down and promptly fell asleep. tree →
• Firefighters arrived promptly. tree →
• Pay your bill promptly. tree →
• The lesson begins promptly, so don't be late. tree →
• The baby saw the cake and promptly put her hand in it. tree →
• But the Woodman promptly chopped off the branch and set the little dog free. tree →

Note

Prompt + ly. Adjective: prompt (quick, on time). Similar: quickly, punctually, at once.