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
Arkansas Online, 16 Aug. 2025
Putin appeared to warn European leaders and Zelensky to stay out of the way of what was a work-in-progress, even though the fate of Ukraine impacts them directly.
—Nik Popli, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
Whereas the practice used to trickle down from the network, which would sell ads and then force TV shows to integrate the products, today many producers are cutting out ad sales teams and working directly with brands.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for directly
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Adverb
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Aug. 2025
Putin appeared to warn European leaders and Zelensky to stay out of the way of what was a work-in-progress, even though the fate of Ukraine impacts them directly.
—Nik Popli, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
Whereas the practice used to trickle down from the network, which would sell ads and then force TV shows to integrate the products, today many producers are cutting out ad sales teams and working directly with brands.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 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 20 Aug. 2025.
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