directly

/dəˈrɛktli/

/daɪˈrɛktli/

Directly means "without changing direction." When you head directly for the food at a party, you walk straight to the snack table, without stopping to chat on the way.

The adverb directly is useful for talking about something you do in a precise, immediate way, without pausing or getting sidetracked. If you land "go to jail" when you're playing Monopoly, you have to go directly to jail, and if you arrive late at the airport, you'll want to run directly to your gate. In the 1500's, directly meant "in a straight line," from the Latin root word directus, "straight."

Definitions of directly

1. adverb

   without deviation
   “the path leads directly to the lake”

   synonyms: direct, straight
2. adverb

   without anyone or anything intervening
   “these two factors are directly related”

   “he was directly responsible”

   “measured the physical properties directly”
3. adverb

   without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
   synonyms: at once, forthwith, immediately, instantly, like a shot, now, right away, straight off, straightaway
4. adverb

   in a forthright manner; candidly or frankly
   “he didn't answer directly”

   synonyms: flat, straight

   antonyms:

   indirectly

   not in a forthright manner