di·rect·ly
də-ˈrek(t)-lē 
dī-,
in sense 2 especially də-ˈrek-lē,
or ˈdrek-lē
1
a
: in a direct manner
directly relevant
the road runs directly east and west
b
: in immediate physical contact
c
: in the manner of direct variation
2
a
: without delay : immediately
the second game followed directly after the first
b
: in a little while : shortly
we'll be leaving directly
di·rect·ly
də-ˈrek(t)-lē
dī-;
ˈdrek-lē
chiefly British
: immediately after : as soon as
directly I received it I rang up the shipping company—
F. W. Crofts
F. W. CroftsSynonyms
Examples of directly in a Sentence
Adverb
He refused to answer the question directly.
She said that she wanted to speak to you directly.
The package will be sent directly to your home.
The two accidents are directly related.
Thousands of people were directly affected by the disaster.
Antonyms are words that are directly opposite in meaning.
We parked directly behind the store.
He sat directly across from me at the dinner table.
Conjunction
I came directly I received your message.
Recent Examples on the WebKate Bartlett, NPR, 24 May 2024
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for directly 
Adverb
Under the South African system, people vote for members of parliament rather than directly electing a president.
—Kate Bartlett, NPR, 24 May 2024
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for directly
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'directly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near directly
Cite this Entry
“Directly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/directly. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
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