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
Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025
Purdy helped provide a big momentum boost with a 33-yard strike to Kittle directly into the wind with 15 seconds to play that set up a 25-yard field goal by Matt Gay, with the ball hitting the upright and clanging through for three points and a 10-8 halftime lead.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
The Broncos had a chance to tuck the game away early in the fourth quarter, before Bo Nix — otherwise excellent — threw a pick directly to Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
According to LimX Dynamics, the dinosaur skin attaches directly to the TRON1 frame.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for directly
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Adverb
Pakistan’s military has ruled directly for about half of the country’s history since its creation in 1947 and even during periods of rule by civilian governments, the generals hold considerable influence.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025
Purdy helped provide a big momentum boost with a 33-yard strike to Kittle directly into the wind with 15 seconds to play that set up a 25-yard field goal by Matt Gay, with the ball hitting the upright and clanging through for three points and a 10-8 halftime lead.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
The Broncos had a chance to tuck the game away early in the fourth quarter, before Bo Nix — otherwise excellent — threw a pick directly to Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
According to LimX Dynamics, the dinosaur skin attaches directly to the TRON1 frame.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 30 Nov. 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 3 Dec. 2025.
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