He left shortly after you did.
“I can't help you right now,” he said shortly.
Recent Examples on the WebThe blaze erupted for unknown reasons shortly before 12:30 p.m. Thursday near Milepost 28 on Great Southern Overland Stage Route in Shelter Valley, in the Agua Caliente area of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, according to an incident report from Cal Fire.—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2024 The last conversation Antonio had with Anita — who shares a biological father with Mosley, lost her own mother at a young age and gave birth to Antonio at 14 — occurred shortly before her disappearance.—Johnny Dodd, Peoplemag, 1 June 2024 The unprovoked attack happened shortly before midnight Sunday, May 19, at the Sunoco station at 1201 S. Federal Hwy., said sheriff’s office spokeswoman Gerdy St. Louis.—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 31 May 2024 The hit-and-run involving the pedestrian was reported shortly before 1 a.m. on 16th Street, between V and U streets, just north of the Highway 50 portion of the Capital City Freeway.—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 31 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for shortly
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shortly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of shortly was
before the 12th century
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