directly

adverb

də-ˈrek(t)-lē How to pronounce directly (audio)
Definition of directlynext
1
as in straight
in a direct line or course we went directly to the site without stopping to pick up extra supplies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in openly
in an honest and direct manner the instructor deals with her art students very directly, always telling them the plain truth

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in accurately
in the same words quoted directly from the encyclopedia

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in immediately
without delay in case of a medical emergency, do not try to contact your doctor but instead go directly to the hospital

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in shortly
at or within a short time dinner should be ready directly

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of directly Helly Hansen provided relief for audit expenses rather than directly funding worker reimbursements. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026 The White House and the Interior Department did not directly respond to requests for comment on the park service. — Matthew Daly, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 Visitors are invited to stop, look and choose the one that speaks most directly to them. — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026 The organization does not tolerate any actions that directly contradict the values and policies of the Fraternity and holds strict rulings against members and chapters that violate Fraternity expectations and the law. — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for directly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directly
  1. straight
  2. openly
  3. accurately
  4. immediately
  5. shortly
  6. right
  7. sincerely
  8. exactly
Adverb
  • The three-time All-Star gingerly walked past her team’s bench and straight to the locker room.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Under the black cape, trash can helmet and ample body armor straight out of a low-budget sci-fi film, Binface’s alter-ego is Jon Harvey, a middle-aged comedian who has spent much of the campaign trying to keep his cool during a sweltering summer.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of straight
Adverb
  • Wednesday’s hierarchy openly predicted bumps in the road and one of them was felt on August 1, a week before the first competitive game of the new season.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Saudi Arabia and Turkey — two nations that have been openly hostile toward one another for much of the last decade — pledged to go to war in each other’s defense.
    — Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of openly
Adverb
  • The company operates a nationwide system of license plate reader cameras, as well as other law enforcement assistance technologies, that allow agencies to more accurately identify specific vehicles that may have been involved in a crime.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
  • For the most part, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 accurately tracks sleep duration, deep sleep, REM sleep, time awake, and sleep latency, and combines the stats into a holistic sleep score.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of accurately
Adverb
  • Clark immediately started limping and grimaced as she was subbed out.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Instead of committing immediately to a single vehicle architecture, the Army is effectively subjecting multiple approaches to the same test regime and allowing battlefield performance to determine which ones deserve further investment.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of immediately
Adverb
  • Scharf's onboarding comes shortly before the midterm elections, and the possibility that Democrats win back one or both chambers of Congress.
    — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Totality in Portugal and Spain will happen shortly before sunset.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of shortly
Adverb
  • But Spain and the northeastern tip of Portugal will experience a special spectacle as totality, which will last just under two minutes, occurs right before sunset.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Angels right fielder Wade Meckler robbed Seager of a home run to end the seventh and preserve a 1-all tie.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of right
Adverb
  • Colquitt sincerely believes that her work can restore the dignity too often denied people in their last days.
    — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
  • But the results and the action on the field were second to the experience for Baldwin, who was sincerely present in the moment during the two days of All-Star Game activities.
    — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of sincerely
Adverb
  • The agency’s decision to make the videos public comes almost exactly a month after the encounter, which marked the third shooting involving Oakland police this year and at least the seventh since 2023.
    — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Some states rely on a formula to determine exactly how much money gets returned to borrowers.
    — P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of exactly

Browse Nearby Words

directives
directly
direct mail
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Cite this Entry

“Directly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directly. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of directly for Spanish Speakers

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