DictionaryAI

directly

di-REKT-lee/dɪˈɹɛk(t)li/

7 meanings of directly

Practice

  1. 1
    not through othersadverb
    In a straightforward way, without anything or anyone intervening; by direct rather than secondary means.

    Customers can now order directly from the manufacturer, with no retailer in between.

    The new manager reports directly to the company's owner.

    UsageOften before to or from: report directly to the owner, buy directly from the maker.

    Oppositeindirectly

  2. 2
    exact positionadverb
    Exactly; precisely at a given point or position; at the shortest possible distance.

    The new station was built directly opposite the old courthouse.

    The satellite passed directly over the city at noon.

    UsageUsually before a place word: directly opposite, directly above, directly behind.

    Similarexactly, precisely, right, squarely

  3. 3
    straight lineadverb
    In a direct manner; in a straight line or course, without deviation.

    The trail runs directly from the parking lot to the summit, with no switchbacks.

    After the meeting, she drove directly home, making no stops along the way.

    Similarstraight

    Oppositecircuitously

  4. 4
    in plain wordsadverb
    In a frank, plain way, saying something openly and honestly without hinting or evading.

    The report states directly that the bridge is unsafe.

    When reporters pressed him, the mayor finally addressed the rumors directly.

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    at onceadverbdated
    Immediately; at once; without delay.

    The captain ordered the men to lower the boats directly, for the ship was taking on water.

    She read the letter and answered it directly, not even waiting for breakfast.

    UsageTo mean at once, immediately or at once is clearer today.

    Similarimmediately, instantly, promptly, straightaway, forthwith

    Oppositelater

    Note

    This is the clock-time sense, and it now sounds dated: an order to lower the boats directly meant lower them at once. In current English it blurs easily with the straight-line sense, since "go directly home" can mean by the shortest route or without delay.

  2. 6
    as soon asconjunctionBritish
    As soon as; immediately after something happens.

    Directly she heard the front door, she put the kettle on.

    He promised to write directly he had any news.

    UsageStarts a time clause with no linking word: directly she heard the door. Outside Britain, as soon as is the usual choice.

    Similaronce, when

    Note

    A conjunction that heads a clause of time with no linking word, as in Lawrence Durrell's "directly he got back" and Hilary Mantel's "directly this is over" in Wolf Hall. The fuller forms directly that, directly as and directly when explain the grammar: the linking word dropped, leaving the adverb to do a conjunction's work.

  3. 7
    soonadverbdialectalCornwallMidlandsSouthern US
    Soon or in due course, including at the next opportunity or as soon as it is convenient.

    Grandpa waved from the porch and called that he'd be along directly.

    Go on and start supper without me; I'll be along directly.

    Similarsoon, presently, shortly

    Note

    Spoken English in the Southern US, Cornwall and the Midlands keeps a relaxed clock: "I'll be along directly" promises arrival in a while, once the present task is done. That is why a speaker can say "we'll go directly, but first I need to finish sweeping" without contradiction. A listener who knows only the "at once" meaning may hear a promise of speed that was never made.

    Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

    • The meaning ‘soon or when convenient’ occurs in Southern US, Cornish and Midlands dialects. en.wiktionary.org

Practice

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Origin

Formed from "direct" combined with the suffix "-ly".

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact