straightaway

1 of 3

adverb

straight·​away ˌstrāt-ə-ˈwā How to pronounce straightaway (audio)
: without hesitation or delay

straightaway

2 of 3

adjective

straight·​away ˈstrāt-ə-ˌwā How to pronounce straightaway (audio)
1
: proceeding in a straight line : continuous in direction
2

straightaway

3 of 3

noun

straight·​away ˈstrā-tə-ˌwā How to pronounce straightaway (audio)
: a straight course: such as
a
: the straight part of a closed racecourse : stretch
b
: a straight and unimpeded stretch of road or way

Examples of straightaway in a Sentence

Adverb He found the information straightaway. he got to the hospital, and straightaway he was admitted and given intravenous fluids Adjective her first novel was a straightaway success the doomed ship was headed on a straightaway course in the path of the iceberg
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
Money was tight and, in order to bank it straightaway, Jane Austen had no option but to discount it at a loss, as details on the back show. Literary Hub, 4 Aug. 2025 Once initiated, though, Ultra fired up straightaway every time. Michael Teo Van Runkle, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2025
Adjective
Mountcastle made it 4-1 two batters later, sending a 1-0 sinker out to straightaway center field. Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2025 An inning later, Ohtani launched his 40th home run of the season 417 feet to straightaway center field. Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 10 Aug. 2025
Noun
Last year, due to construction, the event moved inside the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, with drag races taking place on the straightaway. Liam Rappleye, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025 Asking straightaway isn’t a viable option. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for straightaway

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

circa 1534, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of straightaway was circa 1534

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Straightaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straightaway. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

straightaway

1 of 3 adjective
straight·​away ˈstrāt-ə-ˌwā How to pronounce straightaway (audio)
1
: proceeding in a straight line : continuous in direction : straightforward
2
: immediate sense 4
made a straightaway reply

straightaway

2 of 3 noun
: the straight part of a racetrack : stretch

straightaway

3 of 3 adverb
straight·​away ˌstrāt-ə-ˈwā How to pronounce straightaway (audio)
: without delay : immediately
found an answer straightaway

More from Merriam-Webster on straightaway

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