directly
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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
directly
- /dɪˈɹɛk(t).li/ Canada, US, UK
- /daɪˈɹɛk(t).li/ Canada, US, UK
- /dɪˈɹek(t).li/ Australia
- /dɑeˈɹek(t).li/ Australia
Where it comes from
Etymology tree
English direct
Middle English -ly
English -ly
English directly
From direct + -ly.
adverb more directly · most directly
- In a direct manner; in a straight line or course. He drove directly to the office, and didn't stop off at the petrol station.
- In a straightforward way; without anything intervening; not by secondary but by direct means. I'm sick of asking you to fire him; I'll just do it directly.
- Plainly, without circumlocution or ambiguity; absolutely; in express terms. I'm going to tell Natalie directly that I love her.
- Exactly; just; at the shortest possible distance. It's directly across the street.
- Straightforwardly; honestly. He told me directly that he'd cheated on me, and how sorry he was for it.
- Immediately.
- Soon; next; in due time; as soon as it becomes convenient. We'll go to the store directly, but first I need to finish sweeping.
Similar: clearly, downrightly, unambiguously, dead, precisely, slap bang, now, tout de suite, in due course, presently, shortly
conjunction
- As soon as; immediately (elliptical for directly that/as/when) “He is, he is," Nastenka repeated. “He is here, and I know it. We made an agreement at the time, that evening, before he went away: when we said all that I have told you, and had come to an understanding, then we came out here for a walk on this embankment. It was ten o'clock; we sat on this seat. I
