1
as in immediate
done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time
her first novel was a straightaway success
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in linear
free from irregularities or digressions in course
the doomed ship was headed on a straightaway course in the path of the iceberg
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in immediately
without delay
he got to the hospital, and straightaway he was admitted and given intravenous fluids
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of straightaway
Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
An infield single by Jorge Polanco and a 10-pitch walk to Luis Robert — who fouled off five pitches — loaded the bases for Brett Baty, who then lifted a line drive to straightaway center field.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Over breakfast on the day after the announcement was made, Venetia’s grandfather was reading the account of the new planet aloud from the paper and the young girl straightaway recommended the name Pluto, the ruler of the underworld.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for straightaway
Adjective
Yamamoto then let Gabriel Arias get hold of a curveball for a 407-foot home run to straightaway center field.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
An infield single by Jorge Polanco and a 10-pitch walk to Luis Robert — who fouled off five pitches — loaded the bases for Brett Baty, who then lifted a line drive to straightaway center field.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
Adverb
Having a low-lift digital service or offer is a great way to reduce your expenses, start straightaway, gain traction quickly, and test the waters before committing to developing a product.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Over breakfast on the day after the announcement was made, Venetia’s grandfather was reading the account of the new planet aloud from the paper and the young girl straightaway recommended the name Pluto, the ruler of the underworld.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for straightaway
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straightaway
Adjective
-
The race came amid a broader power struggle between the two sides of City Hall early in both Mamdani and Menin’s leadership, but the election will also have a more immediate impact.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
No immediate impact likely for world oil markets The UAE’s withdrawal from OPEC won’t necessarily have any immediate effects in markets.—
Jon Gambrell,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The industrial system of Chicago’s water management — invisible and linear extraction, consumption and disposal of our water resources — is rapidly approaching its limits.—
Alaina Harkness,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
Paglen’s ideas, collected between two covers, carve a clean, linear path through our messy neural era, engaging in the kind of big-picture sense-making that books remain well suited to do, even as AI encroaches on this terrain.—
Louis Bury,
ARTnews.com,
1 May 2026
Adverb
-
The hit was outsourced to a hulking Estonian assassin, Imre (the Butcher) Arakas, who arrived at Dublin Airport on April 3, 2017, and was immediately tailed by officers from the An Garda Síochána’s Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, who arrested him the next day.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Employees were immediately forced to pay about 40% of the cost of their monthly premiums.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Loading media is virtually instantaneous on the Fire TV Stick HD.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
29 Apr. 2026
-
During back flushes, the valve is never opened more than halfway; this allows for an instantaneous flow rate of no more than 27 gpm.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Earlier, the Moon in Libra opposes direct Mercury in Aries, so thoughts may move faster than your emotional response, making conversations feel slightly off or rushed.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
McKenna, working this time without the safety net of direct source material, has composed a shiny soap-bubble satire of a doom-laden cultural and journalistic landscape.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
She was released in November 2010, just days after an election, and promptly returned to politics.—
Lorcan Lovett,
NPR,
3 May 2026
-
Observing disease early and responding promptly by cutting out and removing affected growth from the garden helps prevent minor infections from becoming persistent problems.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Silver coins are more liquid than bars because of their instant recognition from a government mint, as long as the condition of the coins is good.—
Amy DeYoung,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
-
The charges, filed with the National Labor Relations Board, stem from the layoff or termination of all workers in the instant charge and group sales and subscription departments, the union said.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Nicole Kidman Co-chair and Chanel ambassador Nicole Kidman wore a long-sleeve red paillette gown with a close fit through the torso and a straight skirt that skimmed the floor before pooling into a small train in the back.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
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The Wild’s penalty-killers pounced, starting a rush the other way that ended with Marcus Foligno beating Scott Wedgewood for a 5-4 Wild lead — Minnesota’s third straight goal and its third of the period.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Straightaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straightaway. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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