directly
Americanadverb
-
in a direct line, way, or manner; straight.
The path leads directly to the lake.
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at once; without delay; immediately.
Do that directly.
-
They will be here directly.
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exactly; precisely.
directly opposite the store.
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without intervening space; next in order.
The truck was parked directly behind my car.
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openly or frankly; candidly.
He didn't hesitate to speak directly about his debts.
- Synonyms:
- freely
-
Mathematics. in direct proportion.
conjunction
adverb
-
in a direct manner
-
at once; without delay
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immediately; just
conjunction
Related Words
See immediately.
Etymology
Origin of directly
First recorded in 1350–1400, directly is from the Middle English word directli. See direct, -ly
Explanation
Directly means "without changing direction." When you head directly for the food at a party, you walk straight to the snack table, without stopping to chat on the way. The adverb directly is useful for talking about something you do in a precise, immediate way, without pausing or getting sidetracked. If you land "go to jail" when you're playing Monopoly, you have to go directly to jail, and if you arrive late at the airport, you'll want to run directly to your gate. In the 1500's, directly meant "in a straight line," from the Latin root word directus, "straight."
Vocabulary lists containing directly
"We Grow Accustomed to the Dark" by Emily Dickinson
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"Water at Work"
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Immediately
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On Tuesday, the company announced updates to Gemini designed to provide better access to mental-health support, including a “help is available” module that connects users directly to hotlines.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026
More and more companies are directly citing AI in announcing job cuts.
From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026
They interacted directly, sharing tools, ways of life, and even burial practices.
From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026
During his playing days, Vachon’s home was the 46 square feet directly in front of his team’s goal.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026
He was sitting on a low limb of the bur oak tree, directly above my net, looking down at the apples.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
