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Directly Common

Directly has 6 different meanings across 2 categories:

Adverb · Conj

Definitions
Adverb
1

without deviation

"the path leads directly to the lake"

"went direct to the office"

2

without anyone or anything intervening

"these two factors are directly related"

"he was directly responsible"

"measured the physical properties directly"

3

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

"he answered immediately"

"found an answer straightaway"

"an official accused of dishonesty should be suspended forthwith"

"Come here now!"

4

in a forthright manner; candidly or frankly

"he didn't answer directly"

"told me straight out"

"came out flat for less work and more pay"

5

In a direct manner; in a straight line or course.

"She drove directly from her office to the airport without stopping at any other locations."

In plain English: Directly means happening right now without anything else getting in the way.

"I will meet you directly after class so we can talk quickly."

Usage: Use directly to describe an action performed without any intermediaries, such as speaking directly to someone. It also indicates physical alignment where one object lies on a straight line with another.

Conj
1

As soon as; immediately (elliptical for directly that/as/when)

"Directly I saw him, I called out to warn him about the wet floor."

Example Sentences
"I will meet you directly after class so we can talk quickly." adv
"I will meet you directly after lunch tomorrow." adv
"The sun shines directly on our roof at noon." adv
"She spoke directly to the manager about her concerns." adv
Related Terms
Antonyms
indirectly

Origin

The word directly is formed by adding the suffix -ly to direct. It entered English as an adverbial form of the adjective meaning straight or immediate.

Rhyming Words
hotly antly nutly aptly fatly wetly fitly catly artly costly wistly daftly softly raptly fastly deftly meetly nettly tectly shitly
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Directly vs