promptly
Americanadverb
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at once or without delay.
Be sure to complete the form accurately and return it promptly.
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exactly on time; punctually.
The doors will shut promptly at 2 p.m., and no latecomers will be seated.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of promptly
Explanation
To do something promptly is to do it right away or in a timely fashion, avoiding any delays. When you receive an invitation, you might immediately check your calendar and promptly reply. Doing things promptly is the opposite of procrastinating or putting things off. Showing up promptly for meetings, dates, and other plans is courteous and polite. When the President responds promptly to a crisis, it's considered good leadership. If you delay too much, you lost the chance to do something promptly — this is a word for things that happen fast.
Vocabulary lists containing promptly
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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"Of Mice and Men"
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Frindle
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Our aim was to give affected agencies a detailed account once our investigation was complete," OpenAI said, adding that it should have shared early findings more promptly and kept Australian authorities updated.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
In a follow-up Instagram post, Castro said Disneyland security officers promptly found the man.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026
Among the "missed opportunities" the inquiry identified were a handful of reported sightings of Phillips and his children during their years of disappearance, which agencies could have more promptly followed up on.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
On Wednesday, the final reporter was called on 28 minutes in, and Warsh promptly wrapped up by 3 p.m.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Chickens promptly die after eating some peas that had been rejected by George Washington.
From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
