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directly

directly

163 1.0
Do something at once without delay
  • adverb
  • /dɪˈrɛktli/
translation icon : inmediatamente
  • So geoengineering is a way to directly combat global warming.

And that was directly after I got cancelled.

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Examples

  • So as I said, this will be paid directly into your account.

  • No, they send it directly to the other person.

  • I want him to hear it from me directly before the show comes out.

  • You and your little pal will report directly to me and take orders only from me.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • You can put the massage on your hotel bill, but we ask that the tip be paid directly to him in cash.

  • The website allows people to contact me directly about my editing and mentoring services.

    Academic text (2011)
  • You know, the SEC was warned directly about Bernie Madoff.

  • By law, these nonprofit charities are forbidden to directly intervene in elections in any way or to help a particular party or candidate.

  • You need to submit the application directly to the office for processing.

  • The instructions said to call the technician directly if there are any issues.

Synonyms

now
vsdirectly
1.0

At this exact moment or right away

is about immediate action rather than present time only
immediately
vsdirectly
1.0

At once without waiting

is the basic everyday term for immediate occurrence
right away
vsdirectly
960 1.0

Without any delay

is the standard immediate adverb used broadly
at once
vsdirectly
344 1.0

Immediately without delay

is the common neutral adverb for immediate action
instantly
vsdirectly
330 1.0

Right away without any delay

is the common immediate adverb used more generally
promptly
vsdirectly
98 2.1

Without delay or at the planned time

focuses on immediate action rather than scheduled promptness
in a heartbeat
vsdirectly
  • Informal
50 3.2

Right away without any hesitation

is the plain immediate adverb without the idiomatic image
outright
vsdirectly
35 4.2

Completely, with nothing left to pay

is limited to immediate action rather than completeness or totality
on the double
vsdirectly
  • Informal
27 3.7

Very quickly and without delay

is immediate but less marked for urgency
instantaneously
vsdirectly
25 5.6

Happen at once without delay

is the ordinary immediate word without technical emphasis
forthwith
vsdirectly
  • Formal
15 7.3

Without any delay, right away

is the simple immediate expression used in general speech
in short order
vsdirectly
13 3.5

Very quickly without delay

is immediate too but used more plainly
straight off
vsdirectly
8 3.0

Immediately without delay

is the neutral immediate form rather than this phrasing
straightaway
vsdirectly
7 3.2

Without delay after something happens

is the neutral immediate term rather than this variant
like a shot
vsdirectly
  • Informal
4 6.0

Very quickly and without hesitation

is immediate as well but typically less forceful
without missing a beat
vsdirectly
  • Informal
3 5.5

To act immediately and confidently without pausing

is immediate but does not stress confident continuity
straightway
vsdirectly
  • Archaic
6.6

Immediately without any delay

is the neutral immediate form instead of this variant

Antonyms

1 1.3

Slower than usual in development or learning

How Immediate

instantly
330 1.0
directly
163 1.0
shortly
621 1.0
soon
1.0
later
1.0

Surface Forms

directly positive

Morphology

directly = direct (transparent) = direct + ly

The sense 'immediately' is a natural temporal extension of 'direct' (without delay) formed by -ly.

Etymology

Directly comes from direct, from the Latin directus meaning 'straight'. A helpful way to remember this sense is to think of going 'straight' to the action, so to do something directly is to do it 'at once' or immediately.