di·rect·ly
də-ˈrek(t)-lē 
dī-,
in sense 2 especially də-ˈrek-lē,
or ˈdrek-lē
1
a
: in a direct manner
directly relevant
the road runs directly east and west
b
: in immediate physical contact
c
: in the manner of direct variation
2
a
: without delay : immediately
the second game followed directly after the first
b
: in a little while : shortly
we'll be leaving directly
di·rect·ly
də-ˈrek(t)-lē
dī-;
ˈdrek-lē
chiefly British
: immediately after : as soon as
directly I received it I rang up the shipping company—
F. W. Crofts
F. W. CroftsExamples of directly in a Sentence
Adverb
He refused to answer the question directly.
She said that she wanted to speak to you directly.
The package will be sent directly to your home.
The two accidents are directly related.
Thousands of people were directly affected by the disaster.
Antonyms are words that are directly opposite in meaning.
We parked directly behind the store.
He sat directly across from me at the dinner table.
Conjunction
I came directly I received your message.
Recent Examples on the Web
Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2025
Salena Zito, who has been chronicling the politics of the Rust Belt for decades, was directly in front of the stage on that fateful day in July 2024 when Donald Trump was shot.
—Philip Klein, National Review, 10 July 2025
Songs for Other People’s Weddings draws directly from Lekman’s own pivot toward a side career as a wedding singer.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 10 July 2025
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
—arkansasonline.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for directly
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Adverb
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2025
Salena Zito, who has been chronicling the politics of the Rust Belt for decades, was directly in front of the stage on that fateful day in July 2024 when Donald Trump was shot.
—Philip Klein, National Review, 10 July 2025
Songs for Other People’s Weddings draws directly from Lekman’s own pivot toward a side career as a wedding singer.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 10 July 2025
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
—arkansasonline.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for directly
Cite this Entry
“Directly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/directly. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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