English Online Dictionary. What means directly? What does directly mean?
English
Etymology
From direct + -ly.
Pronunciation
- enPR: dĭ-rĕk(t)ˈ -lē, dī-rĕk(t)ˈ -lē
- IPA(key): /dɪˈɹɛk(t)li/, /daɪˈɹɛk(t)li/
Adverb
directly (comparative more directly, superlative most directly)
- In a direct manner; in a straight line or course.
- In a straightforward way; without anything intervening; not by secondary but by direct means.
- Plainly, without circumlocution or ambiguity; absolutely; in express terms.
- Exactly; just; at the shortest possible distance.
- Straightforwardly; honestly.
- (dated) Immediately.
- (chiefly dated or dialect, including Midlands, Cornwall, Southern US) Soon; next; in due time; as soon as it becomes convenient.
Synonyms
- (in a straight line or course): straightwise, undeviatingly
- (without circumlocution or ambiguity): bluntly, clearly, downrightly, unambiguously; see also Thesaurus:explicitly
- (exactly, just): accurately, dead, precisely, slap bang; see also Thesaurus:exactly
- (straightforwardly, honestly): frankly, truthfully
- (immediately): forthwith, now, tout de suite; see also Thesaurus:immediately
- (soon, next): betimes, in due course, presently, shortly; see also Thesaurus:soon
Antonyms
- circuitously
- indirectly
- (antonym(s) of “soon, next”): later
Derived terms
- directly proportional
Translations
Conjunction
directly
- (chiefly British) As soon as; immediately (elliptical for directly that/as/when)
Anagrams
- tridecyl