Word
directly
Phoneticsdi·rect·ly, stress on the second syllable
US/daɪˈɹɛkɫi/
UK/daɪɹˈɛktli/
Adverb of manner
Definitions
01without stopping or changing
B1 · Intermediate
adv. without stopping or changing direction; in a straight line.
adv. in a direct manner or straight trajectory without intervening stops or deviations.
“The flight goes directly from London to New York without stopping.”
“The missile was programmed to travel directly toward the target, ignoring any secondary heat signatures it encountered along the way.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02personally or without help
B1 · Intermediate
adv. without anyone or anything else in between; personally.
adv. without the intervention of a third party or intermediary; by direct means.
“You should speak directly to the manager if you have a problem.”
“The CEO chose to address the staff directly rather than releasing a formal statement through the public relations department.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03exactly or precisely
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. exactly in a certain place or position.
adv. exactly or precisely in a specified position or relationship.
“The hotel is directly opposite the train station.”
“The research findings directly contradict the theories proposed by the previous administration regarding urban development.”
04very soon
C1 · Advanced Dialect · American English
adv. in a little while or very soon.
adv. at a future time that is not distant; soon.
“Don't worry, I will be there directly.”
“The doctor finished with his previous patient and told the nurse he would be in to see us directly.”
Usage
Common in Southern American English to mean 'in a little while' rather than 'immediately'.
Teaching tip
In some dialects, this means 'soon' rather than 'now'; learners should be aware of this regional shift in timing.
05as soon as
C1 · Advanced British English
conj. at the same time as or immediately after something happens.
conj. functioning as a subordinating conjunction meaning 'as soon as'.
“Directly he arrived, the meeting began.”
“Directly the results were announced, the candidate began preparing her acceptance speech for the evening gala.”
Usage
Used to join two clauses, often replacing 'as soon as'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “directly” in context.
Verb
01. directly access
“Students can directly access the library database from their home computers.”
adv + verb
02. directly address
“The manager promised to directly address the concerns raised by the staff.”
adv + verb
03. directly affect
“The new tax laws will directly affect small business owners in this area.”
adv + verb
04. directly apply
“You can directly apply the cream to the affected area twice a day.”
adv + verb
05. directly assess
“The exam is designed to directly assess your speaking and listening skills.”
adv + verb
06. directly associate
“Many people directly associate the brand with high quality and luxury.”
adv + verb
07. directly attribute
“Doctors directly attribute his recovery to the new experimental treatment.”
adv + verb
08. directly contribute
“Regular exercise will directly contribute to your overall health and well-being.”
adv + verb
09. directly derive
“These natural flavors directly derive from real fruit extracts.”
adv + verb
10. directly employ
“The company does not directly employ the cleaners; they use an agency.”
adv + verb
11. directly examine
“Scientists need to directly examine the samples under a microscope.”
adv + verb
Adjective
12. directly applicable
“The skills you learn in this course are directly applicable to your daily work.”
adv + adj
Confusables
Direct describes a path or connection without stops, while directly describes the timing or the exactness of an action.
RememberDirect is the route; directly is the clock.
Etymology
From direct + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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