词汇精选：presently的用法和辨析
一、详细释义：
adv.
目前
例句：
She is presently developing a number of projects.
她现在正着手开发多个项目。
例句：
The island is presently uninhabited.
这座岛屿目前无人居住。
不久；马上
例句：
Presently he demanded oriental prostrations from his friends.
不久他又命令他的朋友向他行东方式的跪拜礼。
例句：
Presently, a young woman in a white coat came in.
很快，一个穿着白色外套的年轻女子走了进来。
二、词义辨析：
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。
三、参考例句：
Presently the tumult died down.
一会儿工夫，骚动平息了下来。
The island is presently uninhabited.
这座岛屿目前无人居住。
Presently he calmed a little.
他很快就平静一些了。
He is presently working on the novel.
目前他正在写这部小说。
Presently he took leave of Philip.
不久，他和菲利普告别了。
She's presently working on her PhD.
她目前在攻读哲学博士学位。
Presently he demanded oriental prostrations from his friends.
不久他又命令他的朋友向他行东方式的跪拜礼。
The company is presently testing a prototype material.
公司目前正在测试一种原型材料。
Presently he began to fidget on his seat.
接着他就坐立不安起来。
Presently, a young woman in a white coat came in.
很快，一个穿着白色外套的年轻女子走了进来。
