# straightaway

/ˈstɹeɪtəˌweɪ/ (US) · /stɹˈeɪtəwˌeɪ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/straightaway
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

right now, without any waiting or delay. You use this when something needs to happen immediately.

For teachers: without delay or intervening time; immediately. Refers to action that follows directly after a prior event or instruction.

## Examples

- I call the doctor straightaway when I feel sick.
- After the pipe bursts, she turns off the water and calls a plumber straightaway to limit the damage.
- The letter demands a reply straightaway, yet its careful wording suggests the writer understands that haste often produces the very mistakes careful negotiation seeks to avoid.

## Usage notes

- Typically placed after the verb or at the end of the clause.

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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.