directly
dih-REHK-lee
Directly (adv) means In a straight line or straightforward manner, without detour. Example: “The train goes directly from the city centre to the airport.”
adv
1
In a straight line or straightforward manner, without detour.
"The train goes directly from the city centre to the airport."
"Walk directly ahead until you see the red post box."
"The road leads directly to the harbor."
2
Without anyone or anything else involved.
"The company sells its furniture directly to customers through its own website."
"Please contact the author directly if you have any questions about the book."
"You should speak directly to the manager about this."
3
Immediately or very soon.
"Wait here for a moment and the doctor will see you directly."
"Dinner will be ready directly, so please wash your hands."
"I'll be with you directly."
How to use directly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishStraight to the point, without anything in between — or, in older/regional usage, "very soon."
Common pairings
speak directly
directly involved
directly opposite
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more directly
- Superlative
- most directly
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The train goes _____ from the city centre to the airport.
Etymology
From "direct" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly."
Synonyms
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straight
straightforwardly
plainly
frankly
immediately
right away
candidly
clearly
downrightly
unambiguously
dead
precisely
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for directly
See all rhymes for directly →Frequently asked questions
What does “directly” mean?
The word “directly” means in a straight line or straightforward manner, without detour. In plain terms, straight to the point, without anything in between — or, in older/regional usage, "very soon.".
How do you pronounce “directly”?
“Directly” is pronounced dih-REHK-lee (/dɪˈɹɛk(t).li/ in IPA).
How do you use “directly” in a sentence?
Here is “directly” used in a sentence: “The road leads directly to the harbor.”
What is another word for “directly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “directly” include clearly, downrightly, unambiguously, dead, precisely and slap bang.
What is the opposite of “directly”?
The opposite of “directly” — its antonyms — are indirectly, circuitously and later.
What part of speech is “directly”?
“Directly” is an adverb.
Is “directly” a common word?
“Directly” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “directly” have?
“Directly” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a straight line or straightforward manner, without detour.
What is the difference between directly and direct?
Direct is usually the adjective or verb — "a direct route," "direct the traffic" — while directly is the adverb, describing how something is done: "she answered directly." Confusingly, direct can also act as an adverb in some phrases ("fly direct"), but directly is the standard choice for "in a straightforward way."
What does directly mean?
Directly has a few related senses. It can mean in a straight line, without detour — "the path leads directly to the door." It can mean plainly and frankly — "speak directly." And in some usage it means immediately or very soon — "I'll be there directly." Context makes clear which is meant.
What is the opposite of directly?
The opposite depends on the sense. For the "straight line" meaning, opposites are indirectly, roundabout, or via a detour. For the "frank" meaning, opposites include evasively, vaguely, or obliquely. For the "immediately" sense, later or eventually would contrast. In each case, directly implies the shortest, most straightforward route.
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