di·rect·ly
də-ˈrek(t)-lē 
dī-
in sense 2 especially də-ˈrek-lē
or ˈdrek-lē
1
a
: in a direct manner
directly relevant
the road runs directly east and west
b
: in immediate physical contact
c
: in the manner of direct variation
2
a
: without delay : immediately
the second game followed directly after the first
b
: in a little while : shortly
we'll be leaving directly
di·rect·ly
də-ˈrek(t)-lē
dī-;
ˈdrek-lē
chiefly British
: immediately after : as soon as
Directly I received it I rang up the shipping company …—
F. W. Crofts
F. W. CroftsExamples of directly in a Sentence
Adverb
He refused to answer the question directly.
She said that she wanted to speak to you directly.
The package will be sent directly to your home.
The two accidents are directly related.
Thousands of people were directly affected by the disaster.
Antonyms are words that are directly opposite in meaning.
We parked directly behind the store.
He sat directly across from me at the dinner table.
Conjunction
I came directly I received your message.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Hilzenrath, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Stadium funding doesn’t come directly out of school budgets but through mechanisms such as hotel and alcohol taxes and state lotteries.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Although he was not involved with the original investigation, in 2024, Pierson also offered to help and wanted to speak with Muller directly.
—Lauren Clark, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
When the director approached Hanks directly, the actor was confused.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for directly
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Adverb
Abbott did not directly answer questions about the consent forms.
—David Hilzenrath, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Stadium funding doesn’t come directly out of school budgets but through mechanisms such as hotel and alcohol taxes and state lotteries.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Although he was not involved with the original investigation, in 2024, Pierson also offered to help and wanted to speak with Muller directly.
—Lauren Clark, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
When the director approached Hanks directly, the actor was confused.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for directly
Cite this Entry
“Directly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/directly. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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