① immediately指中間沒有明顯可察的時間間隔。
Please close your books immediately and answer the questions. 請立即合上書,回答問題。
② instantly恰在此刻,一秒鐘也沒有耽擱。
The driver was killed instantly. 司機當即就死了。
③ presently不久,即將。
I will do the dishes presently,but I want to finish(reading)the story first. 我馬上就洗盤子,不過我得先把這個故事讀完。
④ immediately還可用作連詞,意思上相當于as soon as,the moment。
We left the bar immediately the clock struck eleven. 時鐘敲11點的時候我們離開了酒吧。
The children ran off immediately they saw the owner of the garden. 孩子們一看見花園的主人就跑開了。