directly
gb/dɪɹˈɛktli/ us/dɪɹˈɛktli/
A2
English
~ 1200
Senses
0 senses
adverb
A2
relation
1
without anything in between
With nothing between; immediately in space or time.
Usage pattern:
[something] directly [to/at] [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'directly' with 'soon', but 'directly' usually means without anything in between unless used in certain British informal contexts.
Synonyms
immediately (Focuses more on time than spatial closeness.)
|
straight (More informal, often used for physical direction.)
Antonyms
indirectly (Involving something or someone in between.)
Collocations
look directly at
|send directly to
|report directly to
Themes
daily life
|communication
|movement
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Please send your application directly to the manager.
- The sun was shining directly into my eyes.
- She reports directly to the CEO.
- He stood directly in front of the door.
Learner examples
- Look directly at the camera.
- Send the letter directly to me.
- The road goes directly to the city.
- She sits directly next to me.
adverb
B1
relation
2
immediately after something
Right after something happens; without waiting.
Usage pattern:
[something] happens directly after [something else]
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'directly' here means 'in a straight line', but it refers to time sequence.
Synonyms
immediately (Completely interchangeable in most contexts.)
|
right away (More informal than 'directly'.)
Antonyms
later (Happening after some time has passed.)
Collocations
directly after
|directly following
|directly once
Themes
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I called her directly after the meeting.
- Directly following the announcement, the shares dropped.
- He went home directly once the work was done.
Learner examples
- I ate lunch directly after class.
- She left directly after dinner.
- We went out directly after the movie.
adverb
A2
relation
3
in a straight line toward something
Going straight toward something, not turning or going around.
Usage pattern:
go/come/move directly to/toward [place/target]
Synonyms
straight (More common for physical movement; less formal.)
Antonyms
indirectly (Taking a route that is not straight or direct.)
Collocations
travel directly to
|fly directly to
|go directly toward
Themes
movement
|navigation
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The train goes directly to the airport.
- She walked directly toward the exit.
- Flights go directly from New York to Rome.
Learner examples
- We go directly to school.
- The bus goes directly to the park.
- He walks directly to his house.
adverb
formal
B1
property
4
in a straightforward manner
Saying or doing something clearly and honestly, without hiding meaning.
Usage pattern:
speak/ask/tell [someone] directly
Synonyms
frankly (Implies openness and honesty, sometimes bluntness.)
|
plainly (More old-fashioned; focuses on clarity.)
Antonyms
indirectly (Hinting or avoiding the main point when speaking.)
Collocations
ask directly
|speak directly
|address directly
Themes
communication
|social interaction
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She answered the question directly.
- I asked him directly if he was responsible.
- They spoke directly about the problem.
Learner examples
- He told me directly what happened.
- She asked me directly about my job.
- We spoke directly about the plan.
Grammar
Dictionary form
directly
IPA
GB/dɪɹˈɛktli/
US/dɪɹˈɛktli/
Syllables & stress
dir - ectly (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ectly)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: directly
- Plural: directlies
Word family
Expressions
look directly at
1/lˈʊk dɪɹˈɛktli ˈæt/
fixed phrase
focus eyes straight on something
To look straight at something without turning away.
Examples
- She looked directly at me and smiled.
- Don't look directly at the sun.
report directly to
1/ɹɪpˈɔɹt dɪɹˈɛktli tə/
fixed phrase
work under someone without intermediaries
To be managed by and give information to one specific person at work, without going through others.
Examples
- All department heads report directly to the CEO.
- You will report directly to me from now on.
directly proportional to
1/dɪɹˈɛktli pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl tə/
fixed phrase
technical
increases or decreases together at a constant ratio
Used in math and science to say that when one thing goes up, the other thing also goes up in a fixed way, and when one goes down, the other also goes down.
Examples
- In this law, pressure is directly proportional to temperature.
- The cost is directly proportional to the number of users.
- The current flowing through the resistor is directly proportional to the voltage.
directly proportional to
2/dɪɹˈɛktli pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl tə/
fixed phrase
technical
changes at same rate as another thing
When one thing changes, another thing changes by the same rate or amount in the same direction.
Examples
- The cost is directly proportional to the amount you buy.
- In physics, acceleration is directly proportional to force.