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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in accurately
in the same words
quoted directly from the encyclopedia
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of directly
Donors receive a federal tax credit, and the funds go directly toward helping students access educational services.
—
Claudia Nachtigal, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2026
Culebro will oversee all aspects of Atlanta United and NWSL Atlanta 2028 and will report directly to AMBSE CEO Rich McKay.
—Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 27 Mar. 2026
The discounts come directly from pharmaceutical manufacturers, and the savings are reinvested into patient care.
—Demetrius Atsalis, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Instilling those traits through hard coaching doesn’t connect directly to how players respond to injuries or how those injuries are treated by training and medical staffs.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for directly
Claudia Nachtigal, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2026
Culebro will oversee all aspects of Atlanta United and NWSL Atlanta 2028 and will report directly to AMBSE CEO Rich McKay.
—Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 27 Mar. 2026
The discounts come directly from pharmaceutical manufacturers, and the savings are reinvested into patient care.
—Demetrius Atsalis, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Instilling those traits through hard coaching doesn’t connect directly to how players respond to injuries or how those injuries are treated by training and medical staffs.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for directly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directly
Adverb
-
The ball hit off the very top of the backboard, came down off the front of the rim and bounced straight through the net.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
22 Mar. 2026
-
That didn't stop police officers from several Merrimack Valley-area departments from running straight into the cold water at Short Beach in Nahant.—
Aaron Parseghian,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, openly said early in the session that neither would advance.—
Lucas Aulbach,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard made history as the first openly transgender woman to do so in Tokyo in 2021, though no woman who transitioned after being assigned male at birth is known to have participated in an Olympics since.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
26 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Putin said at the annual Congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs that the consequences of the conflict in the Middle East are difficult to accurately predict.—
Rebecca Shabad,
NBC news,
26 Mar. 2026
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This story was updated to accurately reflect the clerk's role on the Marion County Election Board.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
26 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Additional details about the attack weren’t immediately available Wednesday.—
Tanya Babbar,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Details on when the council will meet were not immediately clear.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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In 2006, the court reversed a decision that had struck down a state voter ID law shortly before the election, ruling that judges shouldn't change procedures too close to voting.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2026
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But a full medical workup wasn’t completed until shortly before Stevenson’s tryouts last year, when an MRI revealed that surgery was needed.—
Steve Reaven,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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In contrast, the song choice was right up her competition’s alley.—
Ella Gonzales
March 24,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Mar. 2026
-
With digital, directors work right up until the last minute; films are ready just a short time before their release.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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But it’s played sincerely, so the visual contrast just makes the connection feel clumsy, if not outright absurd.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
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But the few times they’re forced to play their hurt feelings sincerely are as forced as the moment when Grace zips her gory wedding gown back on before it’s even been washed.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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From traditional staples like ginseng to barrier-loving ceramides and buzzy newcomers like PDRN, the lineup below captures exactly why Korean skin care continues to shape the global beauty conversation.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
22 Mar. 2026
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Which is exactly what Golden wants to hear.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Directly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directly. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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