directly

1 of 2

adverb

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

directly

2 of 2

conjunction

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

Synonyms of directly

Adverb

• straight
• right

Examples 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

Adverb

Instead of sending all incoming data through complex software processing, some of the work could happen directly in the semiconductor hardware. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2026

Simply clamp the Smart Jumper Cables with the mini flashlight directly onto the vehicle battery terminals and let the powerful 29600mWh (8000mAh) 4-cell, high-grade lithium-polymer battery do the work. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

Just like people can directly experience the negative consequences of specific extreme weather events, but not of climate change, the dangers of extreme wealth itself cannot be directly experienced, though some of its consequences can be. — Jen Cole Wright, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026

Multiple people, some of whom do not work directly in the restaurant industry, spoke in favor of the change. — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Conjunction

1795, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing directly

• directly proportional

Rhymes for directly

• correctly
• circumspectly
• incorrectly
• indirectly

Kids Definition

directly

adverb

di·​rect·​ly

də-ˈrek-(t)lē, 

dī-

in sense 2 also ˈdrek-lē

1

a

: in a direct manner

she spoke directly

b

: most closely located

the person directly to my left

2

: without delay : immediately

go directly home

3

: in the manner of direct variation

the perimeter of a square varies directly with the length of a side