# directly

/daɪˈɹɛkɫi/ (US) · /daɪɹˈɛktli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/directly
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. without stopping or changing

adverb · CEFR B1

without stopping or changing direction; in a straight line.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. personally or without help

adverb · CEFR B1

without anyone or anything else in between; personally.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. exactly or precisely

adverb · CEFR B2

exactly in a certain place or position.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. very soon

adverb · CEFR C1 · Dialect · American English

in a little while or very soon.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. as soon as

conjunction · CEFR C1 · British English

at the same time as or immediately after something happens.

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- We flew directly from London to New York.
- If you have any questions about the contract, please speak directly to the manager instead of the assistant.
- The new legislation will directly affect small businesses by increasing the mandatory minimum wage and changing how overtime pay is calculated across the service sector.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.