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
Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
But after returning for the eighth and making quick work of Harper and Castellanos, Chapman faced Realmuto and the catcher atoned for his earlier miscue by hitting a game-tying solo homer to straightaway center field.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 24 July 2025
Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
My ideal scenario starts with going into a used bookstore and finding something wonderful by pure serendipity, then taking it off somewhere to start reading it straightaway.
—New York Times, 30 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for straightaway
Adjective
Tulsa opened the sixth with a runner reaching base on an error before White’s blast to straightaway center more than 200 feet from home plate.
—Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
But after returning for the eighth and making quick work of Harper and Castellanos, Chapman faced Realmuto and the catcher atoned for his earlier miscue by hitting a game-tying solo homer to straightaway center field.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 24 July 2025
Adverb
Getting to work straightaway, the kids built a snowman in the yard, which looked like your typical Frosty with twigs for arms and a carrot nose.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
My ideal scenario starts with going into a used bookstore and finding something wonderful by pure serendipity, then taking it off somewhere to start reading it straightaway.
—New York Times, 30 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for straightaway
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straightaway
Adjective
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But prorating three years of player profits down to 12 months, as UEFA’s rule does, reduces the immediate efficacy of successful trading in the market, the very strategy that poorer clubs increasingly rely on to climb the ladder.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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Steven Pruett is the president and CEO of Elevation Resources, a Permian Basin oil company, and the immediate past chair of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, one of the industry’s main trade groups.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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There are also more storylines in the linear version, with longer episodes meaning more stages, checkpoints and challenges along the way.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
9 Sep. 2025
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The path won’t always be linear.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Moved by her mother’s words, the couple got engaged on July 23, 2025, and decided to plan their wedding immediately.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Officers said — and video showed — the rancher moved his hands into his jacket after exiting his truck immediately following the crash.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Neural coding will make that path instantaneous.—
Somdip Dey,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The position, size and type of injury hinted at a small but fast-moving object; a larger object would have caused more serious damage, and death probably would have been instantaneous, the study authors reported.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Colombia and Ecuador have all secured direct berths to the tournament.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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Fast-forward to today, and the airline based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is preparing to launch next spring, the first-ever direct flight between Charlotte and Zayed International Airport in the United Arab Emirates capital.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The latest such example occurred in the first inning of the Mets’ 5-4 win over the Reds on Friday when Soto stole third base and then promptly scored on a sacrifice fly.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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McFarland, who co-founded the event with rapper Ja Rule, was promptly sued by investors and attendees in a $100 million class-action lawsuit.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Barely any other media in recent times has given me an instant shock of glee or revulsion like this absurd anarcho-cartoon being stretched and squeezed to its most grotesque and wholesome clickbait limits.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
10 Sep. 2025
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Their desperate efforts to hide from the cameras became instant fodder for social media memes and late-night jokes and, eventually, for a cheeky video response from Astronomer, starring Martin’s ex-wife, Gwyneth Paltrow.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Kansas City Royals hold all the cards in their pursuit of a second straight playoff appearance.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Just a straight, artificial line.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straightaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straightaway. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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