Presently means soon, or at the moment. He will arrive presently. She is presently in Rome.
The two senses are genuinely opposed in emphasis and both are standard: British usage leans towards soon and American towards currently, and careful writers avoid the word where either reading would make sense. The soon sense is the older. Note that presently once meant immediately, which is a third meaning it has quietly shed; and that at present is unambiguous and usually the better choice.
1adverbpresentlySoon.
“The storm will pass presently, so there's no need to leave yet.”
2adverbmomentAt the moment.
“The museum is presently closed for repairs.”
Too few real examples of this word to estimate which sense is commonest.
presently is a reference to time.
The word is present plus -ly, from Latin praesens, being in front. It meant at this instant, drifted to shortly afterwards, and then acquired the currently sense back again — three positions in about six centuries.
Middle English
presently
English, today
presently
From Middle English presently; equivalent to present + ly.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA