directly
Americanadverb
-
in a direct line, way, or manner; straight.
The path leads directly to the lake.
-
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
-
immediately; just
conjunction
Synonym Usage
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.
Then I noticed something else: You aren’t eligible for any credit if you don’t buy your ticket directly from American.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
President Trump touched down in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening and headed directly to his Rancho Palos Verdes golf course to headline a fundraiser for the Republican Party.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
It is understood the party has now offered the Board, as well as the Jewish Leadership Council and the Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, a meeting with Bonehill-Pain so they can discuss their concerns directly.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
But Shotwell directly dismissed that concern on Tuesday’s earnings call.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
At least, Jeremy thought the owl was stuffed—until it turned its head, looked directly at him, and began to hoot.
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
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.
