Meaning & use
directly
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
In a straight line or by the shortest path, with no stops or detours.
Grammar: Goes after the verb or before a preposition: go directly home.
Patterns
- go directly to something
- directly above something
- directly opposite something
The flight goes directly to Tokyo without stopping.
After the meeting she went directly home.
The bakery is directly opposite the station.
adverbnot comparable
Without anyone or anything coming between; with no middleman.
Grammar: Often with verbs of contact or communication: contact the manager directly.
Patterns
- contact someone directly
- deal directly with someone
You can buy tickets directly from the theater.
He spoke directly to the president.
The damage was directly caused by the storm.
adverbnot comparable
In a frank, honest and clear way.
Grammar: Used with speak, answer or ask: ask directly.
Patterns
- speak directly
- answer directly
She looked at him and answered directly.
I would rather you told me directly.
He asked directly whether the rumor was true.
adverbnot comparableBritishold-fashioned
Very soon, or immediately.
Grammar: Slightly old-fashioned or British: I'll be there directly.
Patterns
- come directly
I'll be with you directly.
The doctor will see you directly.
She said she would come directly after supper.
Common combinations
- directly affect
- The new tax will directly affect small shops.
- directly above
- The light is directly above the table.
- contact directly
- Please contact us directly with questions.
- directly responsible
- The driver was directly responsible for the crash.
- directly related
- Sleep is directly related to mood.
- look directly at
- Don't look directly at the sun.
Synonyms and how they differ
- straight
- Straight is more casual, as in go straight home, and works without the extra formality of directly.
- immediately
- Immediately focuses on time with no delay, while directly in the same use is less common.
- personally
- Personally stresses that a person does it themselves, whereas directly stresses no go-between.
- frankly
- Frankly is used to say something honestly, and it describes tone and not the path of an action.
Opposites
Word family
- direct adjective
- straight or without a middleman
- direction noun
- the way something moves or points
- directness noun
- the quality of being frank
- indirectly adverb
- not in a straight or personal way
Commonly confused: directly or direct?
directly vs direct
Direct can be used as an adverb in the same way, as in fly direct, but directly is more widely used with verbs like affect or contact.
Practice
If you have a complaint, you should speak ____ to the manager, not through an assistant.
Choose one answer.
Directly means with no middleman. Indirectly is the opposite, and the others are not natural adverbs here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “directly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.