indirectly

American  

[in-duh-rekt-lee, -dahy-] / ˌɪn dəˈrɛkt li, -daɪ- /

adverb

1. in a roundabout way; not by the shortest or straightest path.

   Since I had time to spare I took a bus that went a bit indirectly to my destination, and saw places on the way that I never knew existed.

2. by a connection that is not immediate.

   We all pay into the federal tax system indirectly when we purchase goods from companies that pay taxes.

3. in a way that is veiled or not straightforward; obliquely.

   I use poetic language to speak indirectly about those things that seem to slip from our grasp as soon as we name them.

4. deviously or covertly.

   The ad comes from a group indirectly funded by the cult and calling itself by another name.

5. Grammar. as indirect discourse; not as an actual quotation.

   If I’m reporting the person’s speech indirectly, I’d speak about them in the third person—using “she,” “he,” or “they.”

---

Other Word Forms

• semi-indirectly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of indirectly

indirect ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

indirectly

For those wanting to watch the eclipse, the safest way to do so is by using certified eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 safety standard, or by viewing the eclipse indirectly.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

The number of Part D plan offerings has also fallen by more than half since 2022, which has resulted in less competition—and indirectly to higher prices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

The yen’s slide to a 40-year low indirectly threatened to bump up U.S. interest rates and risked throwing a wrench in plans to pull billions of dollars of Japanese investment into the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Bardem admits he’s been asked, whether directly or indirectly, to tone down his vocal support.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

He had a habit of attributing all of Bunny’s faults indirectly to her—his laziness, his bad humors, his lapses of taste.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt